Careful with dried fruit

A while ago I discovered dried fruit for myself. What a great idea I thought and started eating dried apples, figs, apricots etc. They were delicious. After a while I started using a website to control my calorie intake and had to notice that dried fruit are much higher in calories than I thought. In fact they added so many calories to my diet that I stopped eating them altogether.

At first this did not make sense to me since it was the same fruit just with less water. And this is exactly the thing about it. Since the water is taken out the fruit looses volume and fruit sugar is more concentrated.
While eating an apple takes a few minutes and will fill you up more, due to the water contained in the fresh fruit, eating the same amount of dried apple slices only takes seconds and leaves you less full. This results in you eating more and ending up with much more calories than you think or want.

I am not saying that dried fruit is a bad choice. It is full of vitamins and fibers and low in fat. I would just like to point out that when eating dried fruit portion size is the key. Eat just a little to get the benefits of it. Dried fruit can be a healthy choice and add good things to your diet.

Soja-Chicken with mushrooms

This is my lunch for today. I felt like being creative a little bit yesterday evening and cooked another meal after having dinner. Since we have a microwave where I work I can easily bring my own food from home.

So here is what you need for 1-2 servings:

150g chicken breast
3 large mushrooms
1/4 onion
3-4 tsp soja joghurt
2 tsp colza oil
coriander
salt, pepper, paprika
any vegetable you like (I used fennel)

Cut the vegetable into pieces and cook in salt water.
Cut the onion in small pieces and the chicken breast in stripes. Heat up the oil in a frying pan and broil for a few minutes. 5 minutes before the veggies are ready add the soja joghurt and 3-4 tsp of water. Add the mushroom which you cut into slices previously. Add the spices however you like it. I like it more spicy so added more of the pepper and paprika. Use the coriander carefully.

Enjoy!

Tomato-Apricot salad recipe

Today I really felt like eating tomatos so I decided to create a small new salad. The apricot really gives it that special kick.

Here is what you need for 1 serving:

1/4 onion
2-3 medium sized tomatos
2 apricots (try to get sweet ones)
1-2 tbsp balsamico vinegar
2-3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp mustard
salt, pepper

Cut the tomatos into pieces and mix it with the sliced apricots. For the sauce cut the onion into small pieces and mix it with the mustard, olive oil and the balsamico vinegar. Add salt and pepper as much as you like.
Mix everyhing with the sauce and let it sit for about 15 minutes to give it a chance to absorb the flavors of the spices and balsamico vinegar.

Enjoy!

Making healthy choices

The whole process will consist of two parts. First I want to control what I eat and secondly I want to exercise regularly. At least 5 times a week.

For the food part I have been to a nutritionist already a few weeks ago and she gave me some really good advice. I just never followed it. And I want to make myself more aware of what I put into my body. Especially when it comes to carbohydrates and fat. I don't want to cut it completely but try to make healthy choices.

I am starting my day with two slices of corn bread with a small amount of butter (no salt) and slices of banana instead of jam or honey. I want to make sure that I have enough energy to start my day and reduce the intake of carbs to the morning hours. This is really delicious.
I also decided to skip my coffee and have some tea instead. I am taking my breakfast with me to the office and I am drinking office-coffee which I can only have with cream instead of milk. When I stood at the machine I realized that this was not a healthy choice. So I went back and got the green tea I always keep at my desk. Green tea is also supposed to support the fat burning process. I don't know if this is true. I drink because I like it.

I brought some snacks with me for the day. I plan on eating 5-6 times a day which is boosting the fat burning process throughout the day. At least this is what I read. For snacks I have the second part of my banana, two tomatos and some cucumber.

Since I am eating my lunch at the cantine today I ordered a salad. This is the healthiest thing I can get there. I will try to prepare my meals in advance and take it with me for lunch more often. But I know that this will not always work. I need a good alternative and the salad seems to be a good option.

For tonight I am planning on going to a Lifetraining session. I have not been there for weeks. Wednesday has always been my favourite day to go there so I will take the opportunity that today is actually wednesday :).

I will keep you posted.

xoxo

Introduction to my fitness journey

I have been trying for the past 6 years to get fit and finally look good in a bikini. I never made it. Mainly because of missing self-discipline. I read so many things about healthy food and fitness tips that I really know enough to reach my goal. It is just me. I never stick to anything. But this time I will take you with me and hope that this will give me additional motivation to look good in my bikini. I give myself 12 months. This should be feasible.

Today I am 1.60m (5.2'') tall and 56kg (124lbs). My BMI is normal. My weight is normal. But yet there is room for improvement. And I really wanna get rid of my cellulites.

Let me post some more pictures that were taken a few years ago. The cellulites is worse today. Unfortunately.