WHAT I EAT IN A DAY

Hello everyone! So we are half way into the year and i am finally getting around to sharing a what i eat in a day post, which i did mention that i was going to try and do more of. That being said one thing i have been committed to this year as i mentioned back in January, was to continue eating as healthy as possible just as i did back in 2018. I tend to switch up what i am eating a lot of the time, which i feel is key when trying to follow a more healthy lifestyle and this way you aren't going to get bored and reach for the more unhealthy options...

For breakfast i do tend to switch between one of four things, which consists of either yoghurt, porridge, protein shake/smoothie or cereal and today it was a yoghurt kind of morning. This yoghurt is the 0% fat greek style with honey and i had around 4 or 5 tablespoons of this before topping with some dried mixed fruit, homemade no added sugar granola, sunflower seeds and a little peanut butter on the side. 

Lunch time and this particular day i had a favourite of mine, which i have shared in this style of post in the past and that is of course smashed peas on toast. This particular bread is a wholemeal seeded bread, which i of course toasted and topped with peas that i simply cooked and smashed with a fork before topping off with some chilli flakes for some added heat and flavour.

Dinner time and probably one of my favourite dinners at the moment, which is of course stir fry. Stir fry is not only tasty, quick and easy to do but also a great way of getting all your veggies in for the day in one go. This particular stir fry had chicken breast, a ton of mangetout, sweetcorn, fresh red chilli and rice. I also can't help myself from added a lot of sriracha mayo, which is one of my favourite things at the moment and i put it on anything. 

This is everything i had to eat on this particular day, some days i will also have a snack in the evening time but this day i didn't as i find rice super filling and i still full up. I have also been giving intermittent fasting a try recently, i usually go around 12-14 hours. I also drink just under 3 litres of water every single day, as well as one coffee or iced coffee and a regular tea or a peppermint tea.  

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

MONDAY MOTIVATION | WORKOUT CLOTHING/ACCESSORIES

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment in my "monday motivation" series! For last weeks post i shared my go-to Spotify playlist, which was filled with a lot of the music that i listen to when it comes to working out. Which made me think for this weeks instalment i thought i would share selection of my favourite workout clothing/accessories, because as well as having music to listen to when working out you also need clothes to wear whilst doing just that (unless you are sometimes an at home in your underwear kind of person)...

When it comes to buying workout clothing/accessories just like normal shopping in general, you don't have to break the bank to do just that. So before i get into sharing some of my favourite pieces, i thought i would add a few tips for when it comes to shopping for workout pieces.

- always look for discount codes before ordering online

- when looking for a specific item shop around for the best price first

- a lot of high-street stores do great more affordable alternatives to larger brands

- shop sales

- only buy what you feel comfortable in

1. primark sports wear | click to view |

If you are looking for something super affordable yet still great quality, then Primark is your place to go for workout clothing this year. I have picked up a selection of things since last month and i am so surprised how great they are, as well as how many different cool patterns/styles they have. Personal favourites for me are the sports bras which start from just £4.

blush sports bra | blush crop top | black sports bra | stripe sports bra 

2. amazon limited edition fitbit versa fitness tracker | click to shop |

Next up for me a personal favourite for when it comes to actually tracking not just your steps and fitness but also your sleep/day-today activity. I have the white and rose gold FitBit Versa, which is an exclusive to Amazon edition. I love how sleek the watch it, as well as the fact it goes with anything i wear. My favourite features (which you can keep a track on via the app). FitBit's are a lot less expensive than investing in an Apple Watch, but you can also get cheaper alternatives to both brands.

3. adidas three stripe performance tights | click to buy |

When it comes down to actual clothing/leggings for workout, i am an Adidas fan as i just feel like the fit me perfectly more so than other bigger brands. You can shop Adidas and other larger brands like Puma and Nike also for less at places such as Sports Direct, where they have sales on regular as well as mix and match for so much offers and this is both online and in-stores.

4. hydrateM8 water tracker bottle | click to shop offer |

Working out or doing any form of exercise always makes you feel dehydrated, plus you should always drink a larger amount of water every single day if you want to stay on track health-wise and it has so many benefits. For me personally a HydrateM8 water tracker has helped me keep on top of how much i am drinking and i always drink three of these full per day. At the moment HydrateM8 have a special Valentine's Day off on, where you can pick them up on a buy one, get one free offer. Whether you want to pick up two for yourself, or go halves with someone you know, this is such a great deal not to pass up.

5.  adidas three stripe bra | click to buy |

Another Adidas piece i love is this particular sports bra, as i do love a good co-ord/matching set even when it comes to my workout clothes. You can also shop Adidas bra's/other pieces on Surfdome, which i mentioned in my previous post, where i shared my february must-buys.

6. puma core overhead hoodie | click to shop offer |

Finally we have a hoodie which i picked up last month, the reason being is it is so cold at the moment you need to layer up before and after workouts. I love this particular hoodie, although i would recommend sizing up one if you like things a little more oversized. It is currently on offer on the JD Sports website for just £30 instead of £45 and comes in black or grey. 

Catch up on my previous "monday motivation" post: here

xo.

MOTIVATION MONDAY | MY CURRENT GO-TO WORKOUT PLAYLIST

Hello everyone and welcome back to a new Motivation Monday series! As i mentioned in my previous series last year, for me music plays a huge part in staying motivated especially when it comes to working out or even just going for a walk. With that in mind to kick things off, i thought i would share my go-to workout playlist...

As i have mentioned before when it comes to listening to music, i always listen either on my phone, computer or TV via Spotify so all links will direct straight to Spotify.

1. FYT (feat. french montana) Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

2. New Level - Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

3. Ride It - Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign

( i am obsessed with the whole Mih-Ty album, can you tell?)

4. Talk To Me (feat. rich the kid) - Tory Lanez

5. Sicko Mode -Travis Scott

6. Taste (feat. offset) - Tyga

7. Swish - Tyga

8. Stargazing - Travis Scott

9. Clout (feat. 21 savage) - Ty Dolla $ign

10. Sad! - XXXTENTACION

11. Keep In Touch (feat. bryson tiller) - Tory Lanez

12. Champion (feat. travis scott) - NAV

13. Not A Love Song (feat. ma$e) - Eric Bellinger

14. On The Regular - The-Dream

15. Rambo - Bryson Tiller

16. No Stylist (feat. drake) - French Montana

17. ZEZE (feat. travis scott + offset) Kodak Black

18. First Off (feat. travis scott) - Future

19. Crushed Up - Future

20. God's Plan - Drake

21. If You Ever (feat. 6lack) - Nao

22. Shootin Shots (feat. ty dolla $ign + tory lanez) - Trey Songz

23. Switch - 6lack

24. Times 10 (feat. lil baby) - Sammie

25. 2AM (feat. tory lanez + davido) - Casanova

26. Dirty - Tank

27. East Atlanta Love Letter (feat. future) - 6lack

28. I Got (feat. trey songz) - Birdman, Jacquees

29. Good Company (feat. swae lee + quavo) - Tone Stith

30. Night Thang - The-Dream

Catch up on my previous "motviation monday" post: here

xo.

MY JANUARY MUST-BUYS | CLOTHING + ACCESSORIES

Hello everyone! I know that in my goals for 2019 post i said that for January my aim was to spend less and save more, but that being said i really wanted to still share my monthly must-buys post. Seeing as i skipped on sharing my must-buys at the end of last year, i thought i would share with you some of the must-buy items that i picked up towards the end of last year/the start of this year so far...

1. FitBit versa health and fitness smartwatch | amazon exclusive |

So first up is something that i had wanted to get for a while and that is a smartwatch, which i finally ended up getting one for Christmas. Smartwatches are such a great way to track your health and fitness on a daily basic, especially for making sure you get in those 10,000 steps a day. I have the white and rose gold FitBit Versa, which is an exclusive to Amazon edition. I love how sleek the watch it, as well as the fact it goes with anything i wear. My favourite features (which you can keep a track on via the app) are the sleep tracker, exercise features to help achieve your goals and an hours active feature.  

2. damien: a stark novel book six | kindle edition |

I am so excited to get reading this book, as i have loved every single book in the series previous and i highly recommend giving the series a read. These books have always been those that have completely captured me and forced me to want to binge read them, as i just couldn't put them down. The reason for me being so excited for this book is the fact that it is all from Damien's p.o.v and i am so intrigued to know what is going off in that head of his, after all these years just as i was to jump inside Jesse's head in the With This Man book.

3. new look emilee coated jeans | asos |

I picked these up just before Christmas as a back up plan for Christmas Day but i ended up wearing them on New Year's instead. The fit of these are so nice, with a skinny fit but as they are a "jegging type" pull-on jean it makes them super comfortable. I actually mentioned on Twitter how they made me think of Ross from Friend's every time i went to the bathroom and prayed i wouldn't end up in that situation, as this effect trousers always makes me think of that episode.

4. side stripe active wear crop top | primark |

With it being January, of course everyone seems to have gone fitness wear crazy and Primark by far have really impressed me, with their new range of active wear. They have a wide range of sports bra's/crop tops that are just £5, which is such a bargain and they are super comfortable to workout in. They of course also do the matching bottoms to the tops, along side hoodies, sweatshirts and bottoms and everything is such a good price.

5. lips le femme slogan t-shirt | boohoo |

If you have read a lot of my posts previously, then you will know i love Boohoo and especially their slogan t-shirts at the moment. I recently picked up this Le Femme slogan tee in black (which is currently unavailable) but it also comes in white and grey. What i love about Boohoo is the pricing is super affordable, everything is very on trend at the time and the quality of the clothing is always so good.

6. adidas superstar trainers | office |

I am usually only really into wearing all white trainers, that being said my niece actually has this pair of Superstars by Adidas with the black detailing and i thought how nice they looked. So of course over Christmas i got my hands on pair from Office and saved a ton of money on them, as not only did i pick up them in a junior sizing (which is a hack if you are a size 3-5) as they are cheaper in general but they also had a discount over on at the time. 

7. cream cable detail knitted jumper | prettylittlething |

Finally through-out December i had picked up so many different jumpers, mainly from Missguided and of course Prettylittlething. Jumpers are such a winter wardrobe staple as the weather is super cold at the moment and all you want to do is keep warm, yet still look put together. I love, love, love this cream (almost white) cable knitted jumper as it is super cosy. Also looking at the two items together on the page, i feel like the jumper and coated jeans would look good paired together.

Catch up on my previous post: here

xo.

HAPPY NEW YEAR: 2019 GOALS

Hello everyone and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a lovely festive break, which talking of breaks i decided to take one myself the last couple of weeks in December. That being said i am actually glad to get back to normality and glad for to hit refresh for a new year, which i am so motivated for. With that in mind for the first post of the year, i thought it would only be right to share some of my goals for the year...

1. keep up with healthy eating/lifestyle 

If you read some of my motivation monday posts back last summer, then you will already know that around February time i decided to completely change my diet/lifestyle and become fit and healthy by working out and eating cleaner. Doing just that has completely changed me as a person and i honestly feel so much better/happier about myself in general (mentally and physically). That being said i did allow myself from Christmas Eve to New Years to eat what i wanted as it was Christmas, but i still kept up with my workouts. Now everything is back to normal i am glad to be back to normality, eating clean and working out, which is why keeping up what i started last year is one of my main goals for 2019.

2. spend less/save more

This year i definitely want to make it one of my goals to spend less and save a lot more money. One of the things i am definitely going to cut back on is spending money on makeup for the sake of it, when it is a complete waste of money as i already have a ton in my collection. I also want to be savvy with my money and if there is something i want, then wait it out until there is a discount code or it comes on promotion, rather than wanting to get it there and then. (Disclaimer i am not going on a complete makeup ban, i will still share beauty related posts and be picking up the essentials).

3. pick up reading again

So for the past few years ever since setting a resolution to read more books, i had become a complete book worm and worked my way through so many. That being said the last couple of months in 2018 i kind of took a hiatus for some reason, but i am ready to get straight back into some new reads for the new year with the help of the Goodreads book challenge.

4. do what makes me happy

Anybody that knows me knows i am such a people please-r and half of the time (ok most of the time) i will go along with something, just because that is what someone else wants to do (even if i hate doing it). I also tend to care too much about what people think. That being said this year i am going to set myself the goal of doing the things what make me happy and not care so much about what other people think, because at the end of the day you are you for you and nobody else! 

5. become more organised/tidy

I am one of those people that will spend hours organising/tidying up and i always say "i will keep everything tidy now" and a little while later it is just a mess again. That being said i always find that if things are organised/tidy, then you kind not only find something a lot faster but your mind feels a lot clearer and keeps you in a better frame of mind.

and now for a few smaller goals for 2019:

- stress less about the things that aren't important

- try new things without having a pre-conceived idea of what it is like

- use less plastic

- spend less time on social media/take a break

-   plan ahead more

- but also do something spontaneous

- take up running

- try and stick to posting "what i ate in a days" more regular

I hope you have a lovely weekend and i will be back on Monday with a new post...

xo.

MY TOP SIX FAVOURITE PROTEIN WORLD "SLENDER BLEND" RECIPES

Hello everyone! For today's post i am back with another foodie/healthy lifestyle type of post. This time i thought i would actually share some of my favourite recipes that i have been loving to eat for the past few months, which all have "the slender blend" by Protein World incorporated in them somewhere...

So like i said for the past few months now i have been incorporating "the slender blend" by Protein World in to my diet a lot and i have been not only enjoying the taste of everything i have tried but also the difference in the way i feel personally, as i honestly feel really good right now! There is this whole taboo subject about "weight loss" products and if i am being completely honest, i think a lot of these appetite/weight loss products that people get paid for promoting a lot on social media are not a healthy way to lose weight (don't hate me but that's just my opinion). That be said with the Slender Blend you are getting those natural ingredients that you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is high protein, low calorie/sugar yet high in fibre. 

1. post-workout/meal replacement

So first of all is probably the easiest form to use Slender Blend, which is simply by making a shake the regular way with the shaker. You can get the Slender Blend in so many different yummy flavours ranging from Vanilla to Chocolate, Raspberry and White Chocolate and a lot more (personally i like to stick to the Vanilla and then Chocolate). To make this shake you simply add four scoops of powder to 400ml of water or milk (i use Almond Milk) and shake away. - Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast.

2. slender coffee shake

Next up is another shake but this time one that i pop into my Nutribullet, as it is more of a Frappe style shake and still a super quick snack/meal to have. I simply make a shot of coffee up before taking my nutribullet cup, adding Ice, two scoops of Slender Blend, then the Coffee before filling to the max point with Almond or Coconut Milk and then blend away until smooth.

3. chai vanilla porridge

Now that it is autumn i have been loving having Porridge again for breakfast, as it is not only super yummy but also Oats are so good for you. I kind of came up with this recipe by eye-balling it by chance and now i am obsessed with it, as it is full of those perfect cinnamon/chai autumn flavours. I weigh out 30g of Rude Health Oats, add one scoop of  Vanilla Slender Blend, 1/2 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp Ground Ginger, a handful of Mixed Dried Fruit and then 100ml Almond Milk, before popping in the microwave for 2-3 Minutes.

4. not-nutella overnight oats

Next up is a recipe that i put a spin on from the not-so-nutella shake recipe that Protein World have on their site, the spin being i like to do it in Overnight Oats form. Overnight Oats are that perfect, yet healthy and still yummy meal prep breakfast, which can be made into so many different flavours. To make the not-nutella Overnight Oats i simply take 30g of Oats, one scoop of Chocolate Slender Blend, 1/2 tsp Cocoa Powder, 1 tbsp Almond/Peanut or Hazelnut Butter, 2 chopped up Dates and 100 ml Almond Milk. Then all that is left to do is leave in the fridge overnight to do its magic.

5. berry protein bowl

Next up is another spin on a Protein World site recipe, as i modify it by adding/taking away some of the ingredients i don't like. A lot of smoothies have Banana incorporated into them, but fun fact i hate anything Banana flavoured or Banana in general. That being said to make the Slender Blend Berry Protein Bowl i simply add, Frozen Berries, 2 scoops of Vanilla Slender Blend, 50ml Almond Milk and a handful of Ice before blending all together and adding toppings of your choice. 

6. slender pancakes

Finally we have something that i have been itching to try for so long as they always come highly recommended, so i finally picked some up and i can now see why they are highly recommended. I love traditional pancakes as they are so yummy, so if i can get something that tastes good like they do but be good for you then i am going to take that option. They are also super easy to make you simply shake/mix the mix together with water/milk pour into the pan, flip and you are done within 3 minutes. The fun starts when you have to decide what toppings to serve with them, which you can afford to do as the pancakes are only 85 calories each.

Check out the Protein World site for more fun/yummy recipes: here

xo.

AUTUMN RECIPES | HEALTHY DINNER IDEAS

Hello everyone! So when it comes around to this time of year, there is nothing better than having something warming yet delicious to eat for dinner. That being said just because it isn't summer anymore and you are going to want something a lot heartier, it doesn't mean it can't be healthy still because it can. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite healthy dinner ideas for autumn...

1. butternut squash and chickpea curry

So i recently picked up a copy of the October Slimming World magazine, not because i follow Slimming World unlike i know a lot of people do but because i have seen so many people create yummy syn friendly/free meals created by Slimming World and i wanted to give them a go. One recipe from the magazine that really caught my eye, is this delicious butternut squash and chickpea curry. Curry is a favourite of mine as i love anything spicy and it is perfect for autumn time, with some wholegrain rice or even lentils/bulgur wheat.

2. squash, spinach and walnut linguine

Next up is another squash inspired dish and actually a recipe from a blog post of mine from almost two years ago, still a firm favourite of mine during autumn/winter. This recipe is super simple yet super tasty and packed full of all the good stuff, the only thing i would say is if you are following a certain strict diet switch the olive oil up for a tiny amount of spray oil (which is what i now do also). 

3. one pan healthy sausage and roasted vegetables

This is a recipe that can be done with regular sausages or vegetarian sausages and definitely a favourite of mine, all year round not just autumn time. This can literally all just be thrown into one pan or a baking tray and be left to roast in the oven until cooked, not many dishes to wash afterwards either. Roasted veggies always have this beautiful taste to them, unlike when you would just boil them or steam them which makes them a lot more enjoyable to eat therefor you can get more veggies inside of you. 

4. sicilian-style salmon with garlic mushrooms

Fish dishes are another one of those perfect for autumn time, especially this salmon dish from the BBC food website which is paired with autumn style veggies and yummy garlic mushrooms. This dish is super quick to throw together, doesn't contain many ingredients but is still full of beautiful flavours and full of goodness. 

5. sweet potato + kale chilli

Just like curry to me chilli screams warming/hearty autumnal food, especially this delicious sweet potato and kale chilli inspired from Pinterest. I love how full of autumnal colours this dish is, with the orange of the sweet potatoes, green of the kale and deep red of the kidney beans. This is another one of those dishes that could be either served alone, with some rice or bulgur and if you have any left overs eaten alone is perfect for lunch time.

6. broccoli pasta bake

Two things i love to eat a lot are pasta and anything cheesy and i definitely limit the amount i have so much more than i would of in the past. That being said if you do cut down the amount you eat, a little once in a while will do you good as you do need some of the benefits from the two. Broccoli pasta bake is such a simple yet delicious meal that can be made/tweaked to your own specific diet. Cutting back of cheese and adding maybe some nutritional yeast as a substitute or even just bread crumbs, or a mixture is a great way to cut back on the calories yet you are still getting the same crusty topped effect. 

Want to finish your evening off with a low calorie/syn friendly snack/dessert? Catch up on my recent blog post sharing some of my favourites: here

xo.

SEPTEMBER MUST-BUYS | CLOTHES, BEAUTY + MORE

Hello everyone! I know that we are over a week into a new month and i am only just about to share my must-buys for the month of September. Towards the end of August and this past week in September, i have finally started buying a few pieces that are perfect for this coming autumn. That being said this month's must-buys doesn't include only clothing, but also a mixture of beauty and non-beauty buys...

1. adidas originals all white stan smith trainers | £70 |
So i have had my eye on this pair of trainers for a hot minute now and i finally picked myself a pair up a couple of weekends ago. I actually first mentioned these trainers in a things i'm loving on asos right now post back in April, that is how long i have had my eye on them. All white trainers are definitely a favourite of mine when it comes to choosing a pair and i definitely think i am going to be getting a lot of wear out of them this autumn, especially of those casual outfit days.

2. boohoo leopard satin drape tie front top | £20 |
I have noticed that leopard print seems to be making a huge come back this autumn/winter season, as so many different brands have a various range of different pieces from casual to more dress-y styles this tie front top from Boohoo being one of them. This top would be perfect paired with a pair of black jeans, for a more dress-y yet casual night out or a meal out in the evening time.

3. bobbi brown luxe matte lip color in the shade semi-naked | £28 |
We all know how much of a nude lipstick hoarder i am, so there should be no shock that the nude shade from Bobbi Brown's new lipstick collection is included in this post. When it comes to autumn/winter i tend to wear a matte finish lipstick over something glossier, so the formula of these are perfect for the time of year. The shade semi-naked is the most perfect light creamy pink-y, beige nude, which is my favourite shade of nude.

4. h&m striped black jersey top | £6.99 |
Last week i went shopping and i picked up quite a few things from H&M, which i must say my local store has so many great things in at the moment (as well as online). One of my favourite things i picked up is this striped long-sleeved jersey style top with a tiny red heart detailed on it. I think this would be a great everyday transitional piece, where it is still too warm for a jumper but not warm enough for a sleeveless top. This top is a bargain at just £6.99 and it also comes in three other styles but all still striped.

 5. h&m cotton black t-shirt | £3.99 |
Another favourite from my recent trip to H&M is this cotton basic t-shirt i picked up, the reason for this is that i have tried/bought so many basic tee's that are in-expensive yet the quality isn't that great but the quality on these ones are so different. If you go into H&M you will know that they have so many different basic t-shirts, some are a little higher in price and some lower, the ones that are my favourite are £3.99 and they come in plain, as well as a few different patterns. I just picked up a plain black and also a grey one.

6. manilife original peanut butter | £3.75 |
I just couldn't not share this recent peanut butter discovery of mine, as it is honestly the most delicious peanut butter i have ever tried in my life. You are probably thinking, how can one peanut butter be different to any other? but honestly it can and this one is. This peanut butter is literally just peanuts and a pinch of salt, so zero oil or anything added to it and it is filled with healthy goodness. The texture of this peanut butter is almost caramel like, with chunks of peanut through-out and now that i have tried it i don't think i could go back.

7. hydratem8 "living my best life" hydration tracker | £12.99 |
So one of my number one tips and all part of staying super motivated/more healthy is to drink plenty of water. Using a hydration tracker water bottle is great, as you can save the planet by not using so much plastic and it helps motivate you to tell you what you should be drinking. I have been meaning to pick a new bottle up from HydrateM8 for a while now but the new one i wanted to get, always seemed to be out of stock. That being said i finally managed to order the one i wanted, which is one of the 900ml trackers and i drink three of these a day.

8. sweet addiction eBook by J.Daniels | free |
Finally we have a book that i literally read within two evenings, i was the hooked on it. I have never read anything from this author before, so i didn't know what to expect but i loved every minute of it from start to finish. It had me laughing, crying, swooning of the main guy character Reese. I can't wait to pick where book one finished and start on book two soon. If you are looking for a great Kindle read, i definitely recommend downloading this one and what is better you don't lose your money as it is currently free.

 Catch up on August's must-buys instalment: here

xo. 

LOW CALORIE/SYN FRIENDLY SNACKS/DESSERTS (UNDER 100 CALORIES)

Hello everyone! So in a few different food related or Motivation Monday posts, i mentioned that i switched out higher calorie/naughty snacks for things that are a lot lower in calorie. At the moment there are so many yummy and new low/lower calorie snacks, in a wide range of flavours both sweet and savoury. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite bought snacks at the moment...

1. fibre one 90 calorie chocolate brownie bars 

(87 calories, 3.0g fat, 1.8 saturated, 7.3g sugar, 0.25g salt)

I am pretty sure that these Fibre One brownie bars are the original line from the brand, as until recently you could only find the square bars. These are perfect if you are a brownie/cake lover as they aren't too big, they are under 90 calories yet they still taste as if you are being naughty. You can also pick up the square bars in Lemon Drizzle, Salted Caramel, Cinnamon and of course Chocolate Brownie which is my personal favourite.

2. fibre one 90 calorie peanut butter popcorn bar

(90 calories, 4.3g fat, 1.7g saturated, 4.2g sugar, 0.13g salt)

As i mentioned in my recent what i ate in a day post, Fibre One bars are a must-try bar and i mentioned how this particular one is my favourite out of all of them. This is perfect if you still want something dessert-like but maybe a little more savoury tasting, as it is filled with a peanut butter flavour and of course popcorn. Another good thing about these Fibre One bars is as it suggests in the title, they are filled with fibre rather than sugar and bad fats. If peanut butter isn't a favourite but popcorn is, you can also pick up these bars in a Chocolate Popcorn flavour.

3. fibre one 90 calorie carrot cake bars

(90 calories, 3.3g fat, 1.8g saturated, 5.8g sugar, 0.23g salt)

Finally from Fibre One i couldn't not mention the newest edition to the product line, which is of course the Carrot Cake bars and the Triple Choc Cake bars. These are apparently a little harder to track down but if you do come across them, i definitely recommend giving them a try as they are just as delicious. That being said personally i love the Carrot Cake bar more, as the Triple Choc Cake bar tastes very similar to the brownies.  

4. asda blueberry muffin fibre bar

(86 calories, 2.3g fat, 1.1g saturated, 7.2g sugar, 0.16g salt)

Sticking on the fibre bar theme, ASDA recently started selling their own range of fibre bars which come in this delicious Blueberry Muffin flavour, as well as their own version of the Chocolate Brownie flavour. These bars are definitely worth picking up if you are on more of a budget and the Fibre One bars are currently full price, as they are more affordable at just £1.25 for 5 bars.

5. yushoi sweet chilli + lemon pea snacks

(88 calories, 3.0g fat, 0.3g saturated, 0.9g sugar, 0.3g salt)

If you are one of those people who loves crisps as a snack or just in general but you don't want to being eating them daily as of course they are filled with fat, as well as being super high in calorie. A great alternative are these baked pea snacks by Yushoi, they give you that crunch that you are missing from a crisp as well as the savoury taste. These are also gluten free and vegan friendly, as well as being free of artificial flavourings and MSG. 

6. kettle bites mozzarella + pesto lentil curls

(97 calories, 3.1g fat, 0.5g saturated, 0.6g sugar, 0.4g salt)

Another good one and so much better for you than crisps, in fact i think i enjoy these more and that is lentil curls. You can pick these up by so many different brands now (supermarkets even stock their own brand versions) but a favourite of mine is definitely the ones by Kettle, as they have so many more unique flavours such as this Mozzarella and Pesto flavour and also my favourite Sweet Chilli. Just like the pea snacks, these are also gluten free, free of artificial flavourings and MSG.

7. skinny whip chocolate snack bars

(94 calories, 2.3g fat, 1.8g saturated, 10g sugar, 0.04g salt)

Back to something sweet/dessert-like this time something you can pick up in Home Bargains, i am pretty sure this is the only place you can get them anyway. These are just like the Fibre One bars is the way that they taste super naughty yet they are low in fat and calories. These bars are available in boxes of 5 for just £1 a box, they also come in three different flavours Double Chocolate, Toffee Chocolate and Strawberry Chocolate.

(In order to stay on track keep snacks to a minimum, such as one snack per day and of course mixed in with a healthy diet of three meals a day, never skipping breakfast) For more Motivation/Lifestyle tips, catch up on my motivation monday series > HERE <

xo.

WHAT I ATE IN A DAY | TRYING SOMETHING NEW?

Hello everyone! So for today's post i am back with another what i ate in a day post, as in my previous one i mentioned how i really wanted to get back into sharing them a lot more regular again and this time i am going to try my hardest to stick to it. Ever since i have been eating super healthy, i do switch up the things i am eating a lot more regularly so that is one way to keep things interesting and not everything will be the same every post. This tip of switching things up was one of my must do things, during my motivation monday series...

7:30 AM: So on this particular day i seemed to be a little behind/running late with time, so i was around half an hour or so later having my breakfast. That being said for breakfast i had something super quick, as well as being something i had been craving and that thing was bagel more specifically cinnamon bagel. Bagels are kind of high in calorie so they aren't the best if you are on a strict deficit but the trick to beat both is bagel thins, as they are half the calories. Breakfast was Cinnamon and Raisin Bagel toasted with a teaspoon of organic pure Almond Butter and a regular tea made with one Whole Earth Stevia and Unsweetened Almond Milk. Total Calories: 166

2:30PM: For lunch i was of course later having that also, as i was running a couple of errands before hand and decided to have more of a "dinner style" meal for lunch. I picked up one of these boxes from a healthy takeout place called Crunch in my town, it was a place i had been meaning to try for a while and i am so glad i have now as it was yum! I went for one of my favourite things which is Falafel, then i also had Bulgur Wheat and "Hot Veg" which was Baby Corn and Green Beans. Total Calories: N/A

7PM: Obviously i had a larger lunch than i normally would so i opted for switching things up, trying something new and having more of a lunch dish for dinner. This is ironically the same thing i had in my previous "what i ate in a day" post but of course for lunch, which is Smashed Peas on a slice of Wholemeal Farmhouse Toast topped with Chilli Flakes. Total Calories: 163

8:15PM: In many of my Motivation Monday post's i mentioned how i kept snacking to a minimum and only had one a day, either in between lunch and dinner or after dinner/the evening. Obviously because everything was later i decided to go with an evening snack, as i was craving something sweet. If you have a sweet tooth but are trying to be good and stay on track, Fibre One is a must-try brand of bars as they have so many yummy flavours and they are all 90 calories or less. I am addicted to this Peanut Butter Popcorn flavour, which i like better than their Brownies. I also decided to have one of these Muller Light Fruitopolis Greek Style with Cherry Yogurts, which are also my current favourite. Total Calories: 155  

Catch up on my previous what i ate post HERE...

xo.

MOTIVATION MONDAY #5 | WHAT I ATE IN A DAY

Hello everyone and welcome to another instalment of "Motivation Monday" on my blog! If you have been keeping up and read #1 in this series, then you will probably remember me saying to stay tuned for a What I Ate In A Day post in this series and post #5 is the one. I have not shared one of these posts for so long now (i'm talking last year/early this year so long) and i really want to get back into sharing them more often, as they are also one my favourite videos or posts to read and watch. As i have mentioned during this series, i have actually been counting my calories which i will add at the end to share what calories are in each meal...

7:00AM: On a regular week day i always tend to have my breakfast at around 7-ish after i have done a workout, which i always do first thing in the morning. So for breakfast whilst the weather has been super hot i have been loving having yogurt, with either fruit or granola. The yogurt i am having is the Muller Light Fruitopolis Greek Style Cherry (no added sugar) topped with Homemade Granola, which is just Oats, Almonds, Walnuts, Raisins, Puffed Wheat, Flax Seeds and Coconut. Then as well as water i am having a regular tea with one Whole Earth 0 Cal Stevia and a little bit of Unsweetened Almond Milk. Total Calories: 144

1:30PM: So for lunch i like to switch things up pretty much everyday, just to keep things interesting. That being said this specific lunch has been one of my favourites for so long now and i have shared it in this style of post before, as it is such a great way to have that Avocado on Toast type meal but if you are like me and hate Avocado it is a great alternative. Of course the alternative i am talking about is Smashed Peas on Toast, which is literally just one slice of Wholemeal Farmhouse Bread Toasted and Peas cooked and Smashed, then topped with Chilli Flakes. You can also do this with Broad Beans or Edamame. Total Calories: 163

4PM: So in the first Motivation Monday post, i mentioned how i used to have an afternoon snack and one in the evenings but no i just have one or the other, never both. On this particular day i had a snack in the afternoon and i try to keep them as healthy as i can, so i usually opt for some type of low-ish calorie and low fat bar seeing as i had already had Yogurt for breakfast. I love, love, love these Jordan's Frusli Juicy Blueberries bars and i first tried these after seeing Anna Saccone-Joly have these on her What I Ate Wednesday's, they are honestly so delicious. I also like to have a Masala Chai Tea, which is also so yummy and it really suppresses that biscuit-y craving we can all probably get from time to time. Total Calories: 114

6PM: Finally we have dinner and this is probably one of my favourites at the moment, as it is super yummy and healthy also. This dinner is basically a bunch of different veggies roasted like Red Pepper, Orange Pepper, Squash, Sweet Potato and Red Onion, then you basically just mix it into some Bulgur Wheat (which is so much lower in calories than rice). I had my topped with some Halloumi, which was just coated in spices and then i also added some Chilli Flakes on top. Total Calories: 343

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

MONDAY MOTIVATION #4 | WORKOUT/GYM MUSIC

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment in my Motivation Monday series this July! When it comes to working out or heading to the gym, even just going for a walk, one of my must do things to stay motivated for me personally is to listen to music. Listening to music is something i do every single day, when working etc also as i find it does motivate me more and i am less likely to procrastinate. With that in mind for today's Motivation Monday, i thought i would share with you my go-to workout music (which is a mixture of new and older songs).

So when it comes to listening to music, i always listen to everything on Spotify whether that be on my phone, tv or laptop. Click on the song titles that will be listed below, to direct you straight to that song on Spotify.

1. rockin' - the weeknd

2. the light - jeremih, ty dolla $ign

3. in my feelings - drake

4. down for life - dj khaled, partynextdoor, future, travis scott

5. wrist - chris brown, solo lucci

6. work sum - kirko bangz, tory lanez, jacquees

7. low life - future, the weeknd

8. talk to me - tory lanez, rich the kid

9. comin out strong - future, the weeknd

10. stay woke - meek mill, miguel

11. come and see me - partynextdoor, drake

12. i think she like me - rick ross, ty dolla $ign

13. we both know - bryson tiller

14. all eyez - the game, jeremih

15. all that lady - the game, lil wayne, big sean, fabolous, jeremih

16. humble - kendrick lemar

17. pray for me - kendrick lemar, the weeknd

18. one more - ne-yo, t.i

19. on ur mind - ne-yo, partynextdoor

20. no limit - usher, young thug

21. feel it - jacquees, lloyd, rich homie quan

22. privacy - chris brown

23. she know - ne-yo, juicy j

24. elevate - drake

25. 6 foot 7 foot - lil wayne, cory gunz

26. nothin' like me - chris brown, tyga, ty dolla $ign

27. touchin, lovin - trey songz, nicki minaj

28. tip toe - jason derulo, french montana

29. talk dirty - jason derulo, 2 chainz

30. touch'n you - rick ross, usher

31. sex with me - rihanna

32. wild thoughts - dj khaled, rihanna, bryson tiller

33. swalla - jason derulo, nicki minaj, ty dolla $ign

34. juicy booty - chris brown, jhene aiko, r.kelly

35. i'm up - omarion, kid ink, french montana

Catch up on my recent music at the moment post HERE...

xo.

MONDAY MOTIVATION #1 | SIMPLE TIPS ON HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED

Hello everyone and Happy July! So over the past 4-5 months i have actually completely changed my lifestyle and i have become a lot more motivated/healthy by changing my diet and exercising a lot more. With that in mind and seeing as i haven't really spoken much about it, i thought why not share with you some of the simple tips i have found work well for me when it comes to staying motivated. I thought i would combine this post into a series of Motivation Monday posts, for the whole of July...

1. do NOT say you are on a diet.

Maybe you do want to shift a few pounds but do NOT ever call it a diet, because diets are always associated as a temporary fix/solution. By calling it a lifestyle choice, it becomes the way you live every single day and your brain is more likely to allow you to stick to staying motivated.

2. you have to do this for YOU and nobody else.

Another number one rule is always do/make your own lifestyle choices for YOU and nobody else, never let anyone else dictate to you what to do and when to do it. You are your own person, you do you boo (one of my favourite sayings right now) because at the end of the day it is your life so it is your right to choose to do and be who you want to be. Only let someone be in your corner to keep you motivated, rather than someone put you down!

3. watch what you are eating.

Some people might not agree with calorie counting but for me personally this has helped me stay on track without any slip-ups, as i have been within my daily calorie budget every single day for well over 100+ days now. I use the app on my phone called Lose it!, it is free, easy to use and has official nutritional of pretty much any food item/product (as well as restaurant nutritional values). The thing i also love about this app is that you can add your own food/meals to the app, say if you have cooked a recipe from a website or book that has all the nutritional values you can simply add them in. The app is set to the calorie budget according to your height, weight and how much you want to lose per week or you can choose to stay the same.

4. cut down on snacking and never skip a meal.

The way those extra calories add up is when you snack a lot in-between meals, which was a slight downfall of mine and quickly got that under control. Now i only have one small healthier snack either in the mid-afternoon or the evening, but never both like i would before. Another huge tip to stay on track/motivated is to NEVER skip a meal, especially breakfast. It is true what they say breakfast is the most important meal of the way, as it increases your energy levels allowing you to stay motivated through-out the day. (stay tuned for a what i ate in a day during this month's motivation monday series).

5. exercise/workout first thing in the morning.

What i have found as worked for me, is doing a workout first thing in the morning, this way i am not only starting my day off right and it is simply out of the way. A lot of people make the excuse by saying "i don't have time" when you do have time if you make time, get up 20-30 minutes sooner than you usually would and even if you only do a quick 10 minute workout you have still done something. 

6. walking.

It is super easy to just jump in the car to go five minutes down the road, but it is just as easy to get your steps in by walking down the road also and this way you are not only fitting more exercise, you are also getting fresh air (this will help improve your mood). If you are lucky like i am to live not too far from a park, just take 30 minutes out of your day to go for a walk which can burn up to 190 calories. 

7. constantly set yourself new goals.

Always set yourself new goals, whether that be week by week or monthly just set yourself a goal to reach and work towards. Then once you have ticked that goal off, create another one and challenge yourself. When it comes to working on achieving goals (not just fitness or diet) the number one rule is to remember to believe in yourself and believe you can push through and do it, as long as you reach your goal eventually at least you have reached it and you can then move onto the next goal.

8. stay hydrated.

Whatever you are doing or whatever lifestyle you live, one that is the most important for your well being is to stay hydrated and drink as much water as you can every single day. Especially now it is summer, it is important to stay hydrated even more in the heat. Drinking lots can help detox your body constantly by flushing out any toxins etc. Talking of liquids, something else that i have been doing pretty much all year is not drinking alcohol. I'm not saying i haven't had a drink here and there because i have, but i haven't been drinking every weekend as i was before. I tend to stick to something like a gin and slimline tonic, which has less calories. 

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.