Staying Healthy in The Highlands!

Meeting a few Highland cows!

This week I drove up north to spend a few nights in The Highlands.  I love it up there, really getting away from it all and just relaxing.  I really should go more often, it only took me  1 1/2 hours drive! Why when it's literally on our doorstep don't we go more?  This is probably the first time I've visited in nearly 15 years!

Traditional log fireplace,

We stayed in a traditional little Scottish hotel that had 3 roaring fireplaces.  You can't beat sitting in front of the fire after a long walk in the countryside.  I immersed myself totally and enjoyed every second of it.

A small dry sherry by the fire.

So, did I stay healthy for those few days?  Well, kinda...

I took a lemon with me as I need my warm water and lemon first thing in the morning, that's a given. I also took some unsalted nuts, raisins and apples, just so I had some healthy snack options ready to hand.

For the 2 nights I was there I chose whatever I wanted to eat at dinner and I had a few glasses of wine too. ( I was on a little break after all!)

I also bought some homemade macaroon, I used to love this as a child, it tasted sooo good and brought back some memories...

Mmmm homemade macaroon!

So today I'm back on it, back to my clean eating until next Saturday ( my treat meal night) and my workouts. ( No workouts on my 2 nights away)

Because I eat clean and workout consistently I don't worry about those few days away, I just jump straight back in.  I would never allow myself to fall back into my old ways, that's never going to happen!

So I just finished Piyo drench, now I'm going old school and pushing play on some P90X legs and back. Ooh may have trouble with the stairs tomorrow!!

Consistency Is Key

Have a great week, stay healthy, stay happy and pop over to my Facebook Page Fit For Life where I post everyday.

Caroline xoxo

Update on Beachbodys Piyo workout with added slides!

Homemade slides on my feet!!

Yes I'm still doing the Piyo workout everyday (well 6 out of 7 days!)  I'm still totally in love with this workout which is a blend of Piyo and Pilates at a pace which flows.  

I bought the extended version which includes the use of slides.  I made my own version, just disposable plastic plates and boy do they make a difference!

These slides MAKE you use correct form, and that makes the workout more challenging which is a fantastic bonus in my opinion!

Look at that stomach!!

I'm into my 3rd month doing Piyo and I really have noticed a difference everywhere!  I'm noticing more muscle definition, I'm feeling stronger and much more flexible ( I could barely touch my toes before starting Piyo)  

Whatever workout I choose to do next I'll definitely incorporate Piyo, as I want to stay flexible, those hamstrings need to stay subtle!

Day 1:  My heels are quite high, super tight hamstrings.
Day 64:  Heels on the floor, so much more flexible, Thank You Piyo!!

I still have nearly 3 weeks to go until I finish month 3 and I'm super excited to see my results when I'm done. 

Although I love working out, it is a huge part of who I am, also remember it's ALL about the nutrition, they both go hand in hand.  If you're not eating right you're not going to get the results you want.  So get your workouts in and eat right, you're going to look amazing AND feel amazing, promise!

Working out in my PJ bottoms (loving it!)

Have an awesome week, keep smiling, stay grateful and pop over to my Facebook page Fit For Life where I post daily.

Caroline xoxo

Live Your Life Unapologetically!

Just be you, everyone else is already taken!

Do you sometimes change who you are to fit in, or maybe wonder what other people will think of you?  Today I was thinking about just that.  

I have my health and fitness page Fit For Life where I post everyday, sometimes video clips of me exercising, new healthy recipes or motivational quotes but on my own personal Facebook page Caroline Glen I don't often post much about it.  Why? 

Well today I was really thinking about it and to be totally honest it's because I was a little worried about what people would think.  On my fitness page you expect the posts and photos of working out or my latest juice recipe but on my personal page I didn't want people thinking "Oh there she goes again  Miss Health & Fitness"

Always Be Yourself!

So today I'm turning a corner, being healthy and working out is such a huge part of who I am, I shouldn't worry about what people will think or say.  So I'm not going to shy away and put everything on my fitness page. I'm going to embrace who I am, sweaty workout pics and all, along with all the photos and posts of myself and my son. 

 

Post workout fresh beet juice!

I hope maybe this helps someone else who struggles with what other people think, remember this:

You may be the ripest juiciest peach, but there's always going to be someone who doesn't like peaches.

JUST BE YOU and LIVE YOUR LIFE UNAPOLOGETICALLY!!

Have an awesome week and stay healthy.

Caroline xoxo

Clean Slow Cooker Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal!

Slow cooker apple and cinnamon oatmeal with
 figs, almonds and extra cinnamon!!

I love Autumn.  The weather is changing, the nights are drawing in, out come the socks and boots, snuggling with blankets, having cosy nights in and heart warming food! And apple everything!

Apples on their own are fab, but cook them down, add some cinnamon (I'm a bit of a cinnamon addict, I shake it on everything!) and I'm in heaven.  

I wanted to do a slow cooker/crock pot recipe, so when I came down in the morning my breakfast was there and ready to eat. 

 

Here's my Slow Cooker Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal recipe.

Makes 4 servings.

• butter or coconut oil (for coating the slow cooker)
• 2 cup oats
• 1 cups water
• 2 cups unsweetened almond/coconut/soya milk
• 1 cup chopped apple pieces
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• chopped nuts, nut butter and/or dried fruit for serving

Instructions

1. Coat your slow cooker with butter or coconut oil. Add all the ingredients into slow cooker and mix well. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
2. Place in a bowl to serve and top with nuts, dried fruit, nut butter and more cinnamon.

Before cooking 

After cooking

When you walk down the stairs in the morning the smell is amazing!!  I separated this into 4 portions, stored them in the fridge and I had a readymade breakfast for the rest of the week. 

I'm also loving all the Autumn candles around and I have this burning at the mo...

Yankee Candle Wax Melt

Ok, so maybe I have a slight apple/cinnamon addiction going on, but there's really no better smell at this time of year.  

Try out my Slow Cooker Oatmeal recipe, and let me know how it turns out.  Head over to my Facebook Page Fit For Life for more recipe ideas and have a great week!

Thanks, Caroline xoxo

 

Live Well - Feel Amazing!

Treat your body well, it's the only place you have to live.

I've had a pretty busy week.  Between working, being a mum, teaching my Insanity classes and studying for my Nutritional Therapy diploma, I've been kept on my toes!  

I'm really enjoying my course, I'm sometimes a bit mind blown by all the information that I have to take in but truly fascinated too!  At the moment I'm learning all about how the choices you make, not only what you eat and drink but also how your environment and your stress levels can affect the cells in your body.  You CAN control most of these things, you CAN decide between living healthy or not.  Why wouldn't you want to give yourself the best chance at living a long, healthy life?

This film really hits home, you truly are what you eat.

I'm beginning to see that people are wanting to eat better for their health and not just to lose weight and that makes me really happy.  It's not all about diet drinks and sugar free yogurts.  Ok so you might lose the weight, but for how long and it's not doing your insides any good either.  

All calories are not created equal!  Oh believe me when I was younger I did not know this.  

On some days I would have pick n mix sweets for my lunch (remember those?) I would think to myself "Ok that's about 300 cals, that's the same as a sandwich"  WHAT!!!  Not even considering the amount of sugar and highly processed crap I was putting into my body everyday.  

Not all calories are created equal.

If you follow my Facebook page Fit For Life, you'll know I preach clean eating and drinking lots of water daily. Sure I have some wine and chocolate on a Saturday night, with the occasional pizza thrown in, but 90% of the time I'm a clean eater all the way.  I really believe this way of eating has transformed my body inside and out, and that I'll live to be a ripe old age, enjoying life to the full!

You know what else is great about this? My son knows this is how we eat and we really only drink water at home.  Teaching the next generation it's all about being HEALTHY and not being SKINNY.

My son Ollie's breakfast - wholegrain toast with fruit
(he seems slightly happy with that choice!)

Thanks for reading, have a fab week and remember to work out and eat clean!

Caroline xoxo

NEW BEACHBODY WORKOUTS.... AND A FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM.... GOT ME ALL EXCITED!!

30 MINS OF MAX INSANITY!

TAKING THE 21 DAY FIX TO THE EXTREME!

OMG...... I just found out on Friday that Beachbody are launching these two new workouts..... This makes me SO excited as Insanity is my first love and the workouts are no longer than 30 minutes long BUT they are all maxed out!!  Talk about pushing your body to the limit, and they have a modifier this time (unlike the original Insanity dvds) so everyone can do this, even if you're modifying as long as you're pushing yourself to YOUR limit!

Beachbody already has the 21 day fix, but now they're launching the 21 day fix extreme, taking it up to the next level.  No weighing or measuring your food, as long as the correct food fits into the correct tubs, put it on your plate and eat up!  These workouts are also no longer than 30 minutes! I'm loving these shorter workouts, NO EXCUSES, everyone has time to exercise for 30 minutes in their own home. This version also has a bikini competition prep diet plan, which I would love to try out. (Who doesn't want abs like Autumn Calabrese?! - girl in the pic -)

TRYING OUT VEGAN CHOC SHAKEOLOGY

So at the moment in the UK you can't get Shakeology through Beachbody. For those of you that don't know,  Shakeology is a meal replacement or a snack that is all natural with over 70 superfoods in each serving.  This is the ONLY shake I would ever take, no added junk, no artificial garbage and it tastes so gooood.  When I was in Florida earlier this year I got a months supply delivered to my villa, but now I've ran out so I ordered some single serving packets from Ebay.  

I put this photo on Instagram with the hashtag #beachbody and #carldaikeler (CEO of Beachbody) and the caption "Bring Shakeology to the UK".  On Friday I'm scrolling through my Instagram and I see "Carl Daikeler is now following you".  Aarrgghh.... ok so in my cryptic mind, does this mean they are closer to bringing all that is Beachbody and Shakeology to the UK?  I hope so, I really do.  Anything that is going to help people lose weight and get healthier can only be a good thing, and the sooner the better.

In the meantime keep eating clean and working out! 

Thanks for reading and remember to visit my Facebook page Fit For Life where I post daily.

Have a fabulous week....

Caroline xoxo

Saying Goodbye..... and Looking Forward to New Beginnings.

My son Ollie and my cat Harley

On Tuesday this week, my beloved cat Harley died. She nearly made it to her 20th birthday, so she had a good long life.  I knew she didn't have long to go, as she had kidney disease and it was progressively getting worse.  On Monday evening her back legs gave way, I just sat with her that night knowing the end was near.  By Tuesday morning she had passed.  In a way I'm grateful she went on her own as I couldn't imagine taking her to the vet to get her put to sleep.

It's really strange her not being around, as she was such a homely cat, never wandering far. It's going to take some time to get used to.  I have her name tag on my key chain and I'm getting a plaque engraved and put on my bench in the garden.  

She'll always be remembered, she was a big part of the family. I'm getting her ashes back on Thursday and I'm going to scatter them beside where my Mum's ashes were scattered.  

RIP Harley, I hope you're up there running around in fields with the sun shining down on you.

Grateful for the 20 years we got with Harley

So after all that happening, I saw an opportunity to study online to become a Nutritional Therapist and gain a diploma through the Health Sciences Academy.  Now this IS my passion, but I thought I was going to have to wait until my son Ollie was older, never realising I could gain a diploma online. After all the tears this week, this is my rainbow.  

I'm so excited to get started and learn more about nutrition, what it does to us and how important it is in our lives.  This is where my future lies, helping others live a full healthy life through the knowledge of good nutrition, combined with exercise.  

Nutrition IS the key!

As one door closes and I say goodbye to Harley another one opens and I look forward to new beginnings.

Thanks for reading guys, I appreciate and I'm grateful for everyone of you that takes the time to read my weekly blogs.  

Remember to head over to Fit For Life, my Facebook page where I post daily.

Have a lovely week, Caroline xoxo