How we all doing this fine Tuesday? I’m having a good week so far!
On Monday morning I had my first taste of hemp milk!
I had it with a big bowl of my home mixed muesli with a chopped apple and blueberries:
I was very pleasantly surprised with the hemp milk, it tasted a lot nicer and creamer than I had been expecting and reminded me of soy milk. A definite regular non dairy milk for me now – as long as Tesco continue to stock it!
Today I had a bowl of Dorset Cereal Low Fat Flakes with chopped plums, pecans, raw unsweetened coconut shreds and hemp milk:
I learned the last time I ate these that a bowl with milk and fruit just wouldn’t see my through to lunch so I added the pecans and coconut for more staying power!
I also tried a raw kale salad for lunch. I have had raw kale salads before but they’d mostly turned out to be a fail. I had a lot of kale to use up so I thought I’d give another one a go. I massaged the kale with 1/2 avocado mashed with lemon juice until it wilted down a bit then added carrot, red pepper, sugar snaps, alfalfa sprouts and some roasted soya nuts for protein and crunch plus some braggs:
This pic doesn’t really do it justice, finally a kale salad that tasted good! I think adding the avocado is the trick with this, it would have also been lovely with spicy roast chickpeas, yum!
Today I scored some more tasty reduced persimmons from Asda – these are so good I’m now addicted to them!
Dinner over the last couple of days has been Italian Leek and Bean Stew:
I served it up with some pearl barley (my favourite grain at the moment) plus some steamed green veggies and shoyu. I love this stew, comforting but not too heavy for this time of year.
I’ve also been doing my usual workouts, intervals on cross trainer and step machine, spin class and abs and core on Monday, we had a new spin instructor and he was excellent, the workout was way tougher than usual, I really got my sweat on! Then today I did Yoga for Runners this morning and Body Pump this evening. Body Pump was the new release and it was awesome – my muscles were trembling at the end! To help my muscles recover after Body Pump I had a lovely Peanut Butter Swirl Spiru-tein protein shake (with ice, hemp milk and xanthan gum) with peanut flour sauce and grape nuts cereal as my dessert:
I love my Spiru-tein shakes, the flavours are fab!
I don’t know what’s been up with me over the past few days but my appetite has been completely random. Usually I know when I’m going to start feeling hungry but over the last few days I have had either no appetite or I’ve been ravenous (please note that what I’ve posted above is not everything I’ve eaten – I’m just posting the tastiest stuff!) I have been eating even when not hungry (after I’ve waited a couple of hours for hunger to kick in and it hasn’t) as I know that I need to be getting food in me to fuel my workouts and especially after I burned 900 calories on Sunday with my run! I also hate to waste food. Then on the other hand when I do start eating its hard to stop! I’m hoping my appetite will get back to normal as I find it very odd. Anyone else have a random appetite?
I also just wanted to share this random little snippet I came across on Crazy Sexy Life today:
‘What makes up the quality of your life is your daily existence, not only the peak experiences or significant epiphanies’
For some reason this really struck a cord with me – I used to really struggle with living in the ‘present’ – my mind would always be miles ahead thinking about how life would be different when I moved house, started a family, got a new job etc. Recently I have found a greater level of contentment and happiness in just living in the now and enjoying the amazing things I have been blessed with :-) I still think of the good things to come in the future but I feel I have a better balance now.
Do you feel that you ‘live in the now’ or do you focus on things to come in the future?
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I find it tricky to live in the now – I have too many future thoughts and ambitions! I know I should try and slow down and live in the present more.
And I really want to try hemp milk! :D
oh i just had spiruteen in my oats!! cookie dough flavor :D… ive nevr had hemp milk- sounds intriguing!… i def try to live in the now- its tricky but i love my life even more when i do!
I saw that hemp milk in waitrose as well as tescos- it seems to be everywhere now :)
I find that on the days I do long runs my appetite goes, and so thats partly why I still use WLR to fill in my food diary to check I am getting enough. I often feel hungry the day after intense stuff like body pump. If I dont eat a snack after body pump then I will wake up in the middle of the night with a rumbling stomach, and feel sick with hunger by morning! But I am getting better at knowing what I need and refuelling after (things like chocolate milk- eg neqquick powder in coconut/ normal/ any milk- is good if you are not hungry as it is still fuel. What a ramble from me!
My appetitite is can get a bit random every now and then. I think it has a lot to do with how much exercise I’ve done and what I’ve eaten the day before. If I’ve eaten lightly the next day I’ll be ravenous all day.
I’m terrible for looking ahead to the future. I definitely need to try and live in the present more.
Wow, your Tescos stocks hemp milk? I’m jealous!
I’m not very good at living in the present either. I’m either wishing myself forward to something, or — more likely — angsting my way forward to something. But you’re right, life is every bit of the time we spend awake. Hell, asleep actually too. I mean, if I’m overly stressed and so don’t sleep well, and don’t dream properly and so on, then I’m crabby the next day, and, and.. But I’m rambling. The point is that if we’re to be happy, then we have to try and enjoy *as much* of our time as we can, even the supposedly mundane stuff, like cleaning, or working, or commuting.
So, right now I’m enjoying the fact that I can take the time to interact with all you peeps out there while listening to Muse lying on my bed. Am allowed to say I’m going to do some yoga after this too, or is that thinking myself into the future too much.. Hmm…
Anyway, thanks for the reminder to enjoy the little things :-)
I am horrible at living in the present! I’m either thinking about the past or stressing about the future. I really need to focus on my life at the moment, not tomorrow!
I focus on living in the now…sometimes it’s easier than others. Right now, in particular, I’m a little focused on a future lecture I have to give…but that doesn’t really count! I think all of it takes practice…and I’m definitely practicing!
Lucky, I want to try hemp milk really bad but I can’t find it anywhere.
I try to live in the present as much as possible but I find it very difficult sometimes. I also find myself dwelling on the past sometimes but everyday I am learning to live in the present and embrace it :)
Which Tescos is that? I’ve been looking for it everywhere as the carton of Hemp Milk I received was a freebie/sample for review. So happy you liked it though :)
I am useless at living in the now: I always worry about the future, a future I always perceive to be negative. I’d really like to develop a better attitude as anxiety characterises most of my day. I wish I could come to a more peaceful place as you have.
And don’t worry re:the meeting up. Your assignments are quite rightly your top priority and I totally understand. So no worries, as I said :)
xxx
That’s so funny because only last week did I pick up some Hemp milk from Tesco – I was well chuffed with it!
I have been meaning to buy hemp milk to remake the “Chronic Smoothie” at this smoothie place in Austin but I keep forgetting to get it. Your post makes me want it even more! Im writing it down.
I try to live in the now because living in the future and past causes me so much anxiety and sadness :(
Since this warmer weather has kicked in I after breakfast my apetite just fades. I’m still eating lunch and a snack in the afternoon for obvious reasons, but I’m really not hungry again until the evening. I know its only going to get worse in the summer too when I seem to drink more than I eat.
I love that Italian Leek and Bean Stew. I love one pot dishes, but can find them too heavy in the summer. This looks perfect! :D
Maybe with your past dieting you’ve learnt to ignore hunger to a certain extent.. If it’s something like that it will come back over time.. It sounds like me in a way if I don’t start eating I could go for the whole day without feeling any hunger whereas if I eat breakfast my hunger signals are usually ok for the day… Don’t know if I’ve missed the point completely with this thought though!
It is SO easy for me to get caught up in my to do lists and things that are coming down the pike, and I do my best every day to focus on THAT day and THAT moment.
I’m not a that good at living in the now. I’m not a “planner” but I worry about the future a bit too much.
I get random appetites; really ravenous days and then the opposite. It’s strange.
I have always called that particular type of persimmon a sharon fruit but I’m beginning to think I have made that up because nobody else seems to!!!! They always remind me of my granddad – he used to give them to me all the time!
I keep seeing Hemp milk in tesco but have never purchased it due to hearing mixed reviews. I totes trust your opinion thoughg so think I might try it!
I am definitely guilty of not living in the now 100% of the time… but its something i’m working on!!
Ahh Laura I am SO inspired by your outlook on life, food, everything! :-D
massaging the kale is totally the way forward!
thanks for the hemp milk tip, i’ll keep an eye out when i’m next shopping :)
Hey Laura – I’ve been meaning to ask you about the Spirutein shakes for a while, I wonder if I can pick your brains :) They always look so delicious (and the flavours I’ve found online sound insanely good…choc PB swirl and cookies a cream!) but to be honest I’m a bit clueless about the whole protein shake thing…
Do you use them because they taste nice or do they have worthwhile nutritional benefits? I’ve been feeling a bit tired/lethargic after my workouts recently and I reckon I’m not getting enough protein in my diet… I’m wondering if including a Spirutein shake as a post-workout treat might help. I’ve seen them marketed as a “meal replacement” type product and that kind of puts me off :-/ Do you recommend any specific flavours and where do you purchase them from? Sorry for all the questions, I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while and your yummy PB creation in this post reminded me :)
Hemp milk is great!! I was hesitant at first but I was won over by the creaminess :)
I love spirutein shakes! I’m a huge fan of all the flavors but like plain so I can add my own mix-ins!!
I try to live in the now while looking forward in the future. I know that the now will lead me to the future, but it will also pass as time passes so it is not the future. I’ve been getting into Buddhism lately, so I guess that’s where this outlook comes from?
Love that hemp milk! I hope the tesco here keeps stocking it, too!
Also love kale massaged like that with avodado, yummy (:
I think being present is really important, and something that I’m working on at the moment.
xxxx
Becky – I really think you’d like the hemp milk!
Carrie – me too! I think I’m yet to try the spirutein in my oats – I must get on that!
Maria – I like your rambles :-) I had some vanilla soy milk tonight with berries to try and refuel
Sarah – yes I think work outs have a big affect on my appetite too
Alison – hope you enjoyed your yoga – and I think it is nice to occassionally stop and think a couple of deeper thoughts!
Kate – it has made a big difference to my life, I’m much happier :-)
Lisa – sounds like you have a good balance!
Kimberly – good for you!
Jessica – it was at the dragonville big tescos, I wish I’d bought like 5 cartons as knowing my luck they’ll stop selling it or something like sainsbos and the soya beans!
thequirkykitchen – yey! I do really like it just hope the shop continues to stock it!
Wholewheatorbust – so sorry to hear that you have things that cause you heart ache, sometimes focusing on the here and now can help. Hope you get your hemp milk, that smoothie sounds interesting!
Jemma – glad I’m not the only one x
Laura – no I can relate to that – as soon as I eat something then my appetite returns!
Madeline – sounds like a good approach to have!
Jessica – in the shop they are labelled as a sharon fruit but I’ve always called them persimmons!
Flo – I hope you like the hemp milk if you try it, I found it nice and creamy :-)
Alissa – def try the hemp milk, it is good!
Bronagh – with the spirutein I get them for both reasons but mainly cause they taste lush! I love the range of flavours they do and they are a nice post workout treat now and again. They are a very processed food but as I don’t eat them every day I don’t mind. They certainly aren’t meal replacements – a scoop is around 110 cals and you can just blend with milk or juice, they contain 14g of protein so good for muscle repair. I buy mine from here: http://www.healthmantra.co.uk/spirutein_powder I think all the flavours sound fab, I have tried the pb swirl, cookies and cream, cherries jubillee and nutty berry and they are lush! They also contain a lot of vits etc so could be good for you if your feeling tired. Let me know if you try them and what you think.
Mind runningwild – I agree about the spirutein! I do love some of the Buddhist approaches to things – it has actually helped me be a bit more mindful especially around eating.
Lara – glad your working on it, I think its good to have a balance.
Thank you so much for that Spirutein information – really useful :) I think I’ll place an order for the sachet variety pack and see how I get on with them. If your delicious-looking creations are anything to go buy then I’m sure I’ll like them!