Fifty Shades of Food, Because it is Valentine's Day Afterall

Anastasia Steele doesn't eat much when she is around Christian Grey (obviously she has other things on her mind and who can blame her?) But what if Christian was a bit more imaginative and tried to spice it up in the plate as much as he does in the bedroom?

So here you go dear Christian, some little tips for you (Fifty to be exact)... 
PS: let me know how the evening went.

All Recipes for 2 people (obviously...)

Week 5: Testing Fitness Limits and a Taste of La Bodega Negra

When I woke up in my warm bed on Sunday morning, enjoying my last thirty minutes of farniente before a yoga class, I had a thought for my two girlfriends taking part in the Tough Guy challenge. For the people not familiar with the concept, it is a 15kms race across mud, icy lakes, barbwires, all this spiced up with gas explosions and electroshocks. It is known as one of the toughest sport event in the UK and I admire my friends for going there. They both completed it, survived it, but apparently not everyone was as lucky (or fit, as I am not sure luck plays a big part in this event) and some people were fainting or suffering from hypothermia. It made me wonder: how do you realise that you are pushing yourself too hard, hence harming yourself? 

Week 4: Eating Outside, Slip-Ups and Staying Optimistic

Colder, whiter, wetter . I believe these three words sum up the lovely weather we have been experiencing recently. To be honest, this didn’t help me in my quest for health. This week I have also been confronted with a new challenge (how many more will I face?): Travelling. Being outside of the comfort zone of your kitchen or local restaurants give you the impression that it is impossible to plan your meals. It is not: you just need to be a bit more cautious...

Week 3: Weight Loss & a Full Stomach

Last week reminded me of how very human I am when temptation seems to be everywhere around me: a birthday cake at the office, an invitation to one of the hottest bar-restaurant in London and freezing temperatures  bringing cravings for hot rich food. 

But this morning, I was happily surprised to see that despite all the obstacles, I was already 2.5kilos lighter without any feeling of hunger.

Week 2: Motivation, Dedication and Nine Varieties of Fish

First week done! I am actually quite proud of myself for resisting all the temptations I came across. Yes it is January, Yes, it is a “get back to the top” mission, but it doesn’t necessarily mean staying home and feeling miserable. Therefore I decided to go on with my social life, which made things a bit more difficult...

Week 1: Welcome Healthy, Au Revoir Laziness!

I have a feeling that this first week is not going to be an easy one.. It will probably come as a shock to my body which has been recently used to a lot of treats. I have put together a meal plan and some workout routines and I will just have to stick to it.  

It takes three weeks to break an habit but the first three-four days are crucial. Alcohol will be the first thing to go, closely followed by biscuits and cakes. 

Today, my fridge would make both my mum and my trainer very proud: lean proteins, greens, more greens, some colourful vegetables, yogurts and...some greens again! 

New Year, New B!

After one very difficult year, I am welcoming 2013 with open arms...and good resolutions. First of all I want to feel great, both physically and mentally. With my knowledge in nutrition and cooking, I will create a food plan to shift the extra pounds (stones?) accumulated in the last 12 months.  

Thanks to my trainer Dmitri Tkatchev (@epochFitness) I will also focus on getting my fitness back with hard workouts. Losing weight is not the only objective of this programme, the ultimate goal is actually to feel re-energised and detoxified. 

Mens sana in corpore sano. Bring on 2013!

 

Before the New Year starts:

My Trainer asked me today if I had started eating healthier. I answered that I was waiting for January 1st (or even 2nd...) as I couldn't force myself to be good with food and alcohol during the festive period (I am very motivated, but still very human). He told me to at least start THINKING healthier from today. So let's go and plan!

                                  

Tip of the Day: Cooking Times for Fish

Knowing the actual cooking time when you prepare fish is very important. Fish loses its taste and moisture if you overcook it. It becomes very hard and dry. What should have been a delicious dish can be a total mistake if you are not careful. Remember: an undercooked fish can be heated for additional time if needed, but you will not be able to save your overcooked dish. 
You can start experiencing with easy species: salmon or cod can be poached, grilled, baked or steamed!

                                  

Tip of the Day: Broke but Clever, 10 ideas to go food-shopping in a smart way

When you want to take care of your body by eating healthily, you will have to buy high quality products (think organic, free range etc...). Making a few basic changes to how you approach shopping for food can make a big difference in how much you spend. Try the following tips designed to simplify the process of saving money on grocerie.