How to get more out of your workouts...

invest in a heart rate monitor!

seriously this thing has completely changed the way i work out!

you  may have noticed if you follow my instagram that i have been posting a lot of pictures of my polar ft4 watch.

I purchased it at the beginning of February and instantly loved that it could show me not only my heart rate but  also calories burned while working out! 

It was perfect for spinning because it has helped me see how effective my workouts are.

I also just recently realised that it kept track of all of my workout data so i am able to see how many hours i have worked out and calories i have burned since getting it!

I am super proud of how hard I have worked so far! and I am hoping to have at least doubled the amount of sessions by the end of April!

and I am completely in LOVE with my polar watch! 

If you are thinking of getting one and you are not sure you really want to commit to buying a top of the line expensive one then this is definitely for you as it only cost me £52 which is pretty cheap compared to some of the others!

Do any of you use a heart rate monitor to improve your workouts?

God Påske

I hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful Easter Sunday with family and friends!

I have spent the day so far lounging on the couch watching hele norge baker and eating chocolate nom nom!

later i shall be getting my gladrags on to go out, eat Indian food and watch

Which i am very much looking forward to!

What are your plans for the rest of the day?

Oh how Pinteresting...Vacation Edition

I am super excited to be travelling to the states this summer and have been looking at a ton of pictures on pinterest so i thought i would share them with you!

This is a link up to Michelle from The Vintage Apple

we are starting off in

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via Jason on Pinterest

Source: 500px.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Carrie on Pinterest

with a quick visit to...

Source: cupcakesandcashmere.com via Sarah on Pinterest

and 

Hope, Canada (something to do with Rambo?)

Source: firstbloodfilminglocations.com via Roger on Pinterest

before flying down to..

Source: thingssheloves.tumblr.com via Noel on Pinterest

for the weekend

Source: sayukioceanunique.tumblr.com via Sarita on Pinterest

Then a dive down the PCH

Source: vintagecottagecamper.blogspot.com via Lori on Pinterest

and then two weeks in Orange County and LA

Source: mobile.wallpapersget.com via VIPsAccess on Pinterest

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Selina on Pinterest

yep that one is me!! (in 2009)

Source: pinterest-daily.com via Daniel -N- Michelle on Pinterest

I am sooo freaking excited!!!

Have you guys ever been to any of these places? do you have any good tips on things to do and see?

Fitness Goals

In January i made myself some goals, not all of them were fitness related but most, so i wanted to address them and add a few more :)

My goals were..

1. cut out junk food and anything that is overly processed

I did pretty good on this one, i certainly cut waay down on the junk food and my general diet now consists of healthy proteins and vegetables so a definite tick for that!

2. home cook as many meals as possible and try and blog new recipes

This i did really well! i think in the past two months i have home cooked around 90% of my meals, its not always easy and i do find myself eating a lot of the same meals again and again, so i think i need to get on pinterest and find some new healthy meals to try.

3. CARDIO 5 times a week in some form or another

This goal was really hard and if i am honest with myself i don't think i managed it once in the past two months, however i am now spinning between two to four times a week and i am trying to fit in some 30 Day shred as well so i am almost there for this goal.

4. my weightloss goal from now untill my 2 year anniversary with my lovely boyfriend on Feb 12th is to lose 10lbs

I DID IT!!!!!

i managed to get that magic number 1 day before my anniversary and it made me feel amazing!

5. be consistent with my skincare routine seeing as my mum bought me a lovely clinque kit for christmas.

and last but not least

I definitely failed at this one :( I really did not get along with the clinique kit at all, so i switched it out for a Mary Kay one which i am LOVING but i'm not great at using daily :/

6. complete the 30 day shred eek!

Pfft! I haven't even made it past workout 1 yet, but i am still going with it. I am using it as a supplement to my spinning so only doing it once a week at the moment.

and now for my March Goals.. 

 1. Work towards completing 5 cardio sessions a week and try and add in a small weights session

 2. Lose another 10lbs

 3. Carry on with the 30 Day Shred

 4. Make time to Read more (not fitness related but very important for keeping my stress down) 

5. Keep a written food and exercise diary. I do currently use MFP but i really prefer pen and paper for keeping me accountable.

 6. Try a new meal every week! (and blog about it!)

Help make a dream come true

I want to introduce you all to one of my best friends in the whole world!

this is Emily

For as long as I have known her, her dream job has been to be an Astronaut!

no matter how many people have told her that its not possible for women to be astronauts and to lower her expectations *ahem* crappy form teacher! she has always kept her goal in mind and worked hard towards it. 

now she really has a chance to go into space!!!!

and YOU can help!

all you have to do is visit the link below and vote for her! and you could partially be responsible for putting not only my best friend but also an absolutely amazing woman in space!!!!

please help you will be making her lifelong dream come true!

VOTE FOR EMILY JENKINS

Oh How Pinteresting - The getting organized edition

Ever since we finally moved into our apartment, I have been madly pinning organisation ideas to help keep it clean and organised.

Source: abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com via Selina on Pinterest

Source: blogs.babble.com via Selina on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Antonina on Pinterest

Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca via Cathi on Pinterest

Now if i could only remember to actually do some of these things my life would be one step closer to perfect!

Moderation is the Key

Often when a new year starts we all jump feet first into one fad diet after another and after maybe 3 weeks of barely eating the cravings overwhelm us and we end up gorging on junk food until we are right back at square one.

I saw this picture on Tumblr and it really stuck with me.

It makes so much sense really when you think about it, neither of the extremes of eating can ever really be good for our bodies and what is the point of food if you can't enjoy what you're eating along the way?

This links nicely to one of my January goals which was to home cook as many meals as possible. I have decided that instead of ordering a pizza when i get the craving, to try and make one at home instead, that way i can control what goes into it, omitting any unhealthy preservatives and still enjoy some tomato-ey cheesy goodness.

I have already started this idea, i found the inspiration on pinterest here

Source: translate.googleusercontent.com via Selina on Pinterest

and here is what i made

okay so it doesn't look amazing but it tasted fantastic and i made every aspect of it apart from growing the veg myself so i think it was a pretty good start to home cooking my meals.

I have a pinterest board where i am collecting healthy dinner recipes and i would love some reccomendations Do you have any healthy versions of junk food for me to try?