Browsing Tag:

work

Balance

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Stress-Free Lifestyle Tips

You’re sat at your desk and all of a sudden your inbox is full to the brim, that colleague of yours is constantly asking questions, your boss is putting pressure on you… not to mention all the washing, chores and other odds and sods waiting for you at home.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

StressBrain

You thought this week would be the week you start eating healthy and ditching the crap. You’ve realised you skipped breakfast for the caramel latte and all of a sudden its 11 am and you’re stressed, hungry and about 10 seconds from hitting the vending machine!

STOP!

Here are some top tips of how to stop emotional and mindless eating at work.


Say “No” and Supply Alternative

Stop yourself.

Pause and say to yourself – will this sugary sensation help?

Will it get me closer to getting my jeans to feel comfortable?

Will it make my day less stressful?

Saying no means sometimes eating what you know will make you happy later on even when you really want chocolate cake now. 

Fill your bag and desk full of healthy alternatives. Pull out those carrot sticks and homemade hummus.

Go and get a glass of water or make a cup of tea. Get up and go for a walk. Distract that pang and focus on what will truly make you happy.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Healthy office snacks

Chocolate Won’t Make Stress Go Away

The sweet sensation of sucking on a piece of chocolate may make you have a few minutes of taste but this will be followed by a sugar rush.

You will have a brief period of increased energy followed by a severe low.

You may even go through the guilt cycle of “I shouldn’t have had that” “I was supposed to have a healthy week” etc etc.

Sugar is never the answer to a stressful situation – in fact, it can make it a thousand times worse.

Find out what is triggering your stress at that moment. Pause. Take 5 minutes to deal with it. Acknowledge the want for the chocolate and then let it go.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Spinach

Don’t want to eat like a rabbit? Then don’t!

Unless you love salad, in which case, crack on, however, if you’re like the majority of the human race, we associate eating lettuce leaves with “being on a diet” and that automatically makes you feel restricted.

Instead, fill your lunchbox with some delicious whole food recipes. Try new things. Find out what you like and try out something off the wall. Get some new recipe books in and have a research.

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

emotional-eating-21

Love Your Body Its The Only One You’ve Got

Right now is your prime! This second is the youngest you will remember.

You will look back at photos and look at this time and wish you still had that youth. When mindlessly eating or feeling stressed out and grazing… think about the future.

avocado

You are what you eat and you will want your body to be full of the most nourishing foods out there.

Think skin: avocados

Think hair: coconut

Think body: lean protein and these triggers will guide you

Think Cellulite… yes vending machine I am looking at you!

Pip N NutGet Support From Your Friends

Making the right choices can sometimes be hard if people around you are not making the same choices. Share with a friend.

Make yourself accountable to someone at work… someone who can stop you mindlessly reaching for the 3 pm biscuit tin, or when you’re out for coffee saying the no-way to the Hazelnut Latte!

5 Ways To Stop Mindless & Emotional Eating

Beetroot Hummus


For More Stress-Free Lifestyle Tips Click Here: Balance

Recipes

Anti-Inflammatory Vegetable Coconut Curry

Anti-Inflammatory

You may have heard the word Anti-Inflammatory thrown about. It usually comes in the same sentence of alkaline and alkalise but not really know what it means?

Do not worry you are not alone. However, if it is one new word you can put into your mind this month I would highly recommend

When we talk about inflammation and the body we are talking about: joint pain, chronic fatigue, acne, digestive issues or any amount of pain in the body.

Inflammation is one of the largest root causes of disease today. Diabetes, heart disease and other major health problems all stem back to inflammation in some way or another. When the body is out of balance, the pH levels of the blood are affected. This not only disturbs the body’s natural processes but also makes you feel pretty horrible in the meantime.

Many people are even suffering inflammation and possibly don’t even realize it.


What can you do to minimise Inflammation?

Well, first things first an alkaline diet helps with inflammation.

Broccoli

Filling your body with:

Ginger
Garlic
Turmeric
Broccoli
Avocado
Salmon
Walnuts
Almonds
and of course lots and lots of greens!

avocado

The main culprits that cause inflammation are the usual CRAP

C – Caffeine
R – Refined Sugar
A –  Alcohol
P – Processed Food

So if you cut down on these and boost on the others your body will start to feel refreshed and vibrant.


Anti-Inflammatory Coconut Curry

Here is a little recipe I make when I am feeling a little inflamed to put my body back in check.

I cook this up, package it up and take it to the office with me to keep my body de-stressed even if it’s stressful at work!

Coconut curry

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2cm root ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3 tablespoons curry powder
  • 4 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 fresh chilli, seeded and sliced
  • 500g butternut squash, diced
  • 400g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 5 tablespoons coconut milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Method
Prep: 15min Cook: 30 mins Store: in fridge or freeze

Heat the oil in a large pan and fry onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder, turmeric and chilli for about 2 minutes.

Add in squash and allow to brown slightly.

Stir in tomatoes and coconut milk.

Simmer gently for 20 minutes until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For extra leafy goodness – add some spinach at the end when cooling.

Spinach

The Turmeric which I use for this recipe is Wunder Workshop Organic Golden Turmeric Powder.

A Notting Hill based food brand focussing on health promotion & disease prevention.

Set up by Tom & Zoe, WUNDERWORKSHOP is inspired by Ayurveda – the Science of Life, whose principles are based upon a preventive approach to health. WUNDERWORKSHOP uses functional ingredients to maximize life‘s potential, enabling you to live better, work harder and to be stronger (for longer!).


What are you waiting for! Tackle Inflammation head on!

For more stress-free recipes click here: Nourish

Balance

How to Deal With A Difficult Conversation

Difficult Conversations

… have to happen in life.

It’s not nice and most people feel very uncomfortable to be in that kind of difficult situation BUT leaving them to bubble or sweeping them under the carpet can lead to passive aggressive behaviour – which we all know is not good for our health.

Many people often shy away from these conversations which can often reinforce the behaviour of the negative party – rather than nipping it in the bud on the first occurrence.


Here are my top tips for dealing with difficult conversations:

1) It’s hard as you need to have your say but you do not know how to say it

Often sitting with a friend and going over what you want to say can often help you articulate what you want to get across.

One of the things I often do is write bullet points of what I want to discuss and cover in the conversation. If it does escalate or go off tangent I am then able to look back and check that what I needed to express has been covered.

it reinforces my confidence and strength especially if the other person is dominant and/or aggressive.

difficult conversations

2) Do not belittle the point by making it smaller than it is

This is a very British thing to do.

If it has got to the point that you need to raise to another person it is not something that is small.

Many people instantly go to making a joke or belittling their point at the first sign of confrontation which leaves the other person questioning what point you had to raise in the first place.

Be firm and be calm and work out the issues till both parties have a mutual understanding.

3) Keep it objective: Unless it is a personal attack do not make it personal

This is very important. Do not take things personally. If it is Work – keep it professional.

If someone is not pulling their weight, taking credit for your work or doing something within the professional realm that is not ok – address as you would any other business meeting.

Address the point – articulate how it impacts your work – express how you would like to move forward and then leave it at that.

difficult conversations

4) Find the outcome you want and work backwards

When going into difficult conversations most people forget what they want the outcome to be. I find if you work out what you want the outcome to be you can then start to look at the journey to get there.

If you do not know the outcome then the conversations will not have a definitive end.

5) Be open to the other person’s point of view

This is a conversation, not a dictation – therefore remember there are always two sides to every outcome and be prepared to meet in the middle to move forward.

To mutually agree a way of dealing with any difficulty situation will always be the best solution.


Conclusion

As I said, no one likes to have a tough conversation, but you will be far more respected by being open in your communication and setting boundaries.

 

Balance

Best exercises for stress management

Stress

Everyday stresses can really wear you down. When the office seems to be getting on top of you and the work-load seems to be ever growing it can be hard to let go and separate home from work. Part of having a work-life balance is learning techniques to know when to turn off you work head from your home head. This can be difficult if there is not a natural break between leaving work and getting home.


Exercise

Exercise is often the best cure when your day has stressed you out. An after work gym session could be the best break you could have between leaving the office and getting home. Most people need to digest and sometimes take the stress of their day out which if you keep bottled up could lead to you having a stressful home environment. No-one enjoys having their head bitten off when they ask “how was your day”.

workout, stress management, stress relief


Pilates

Pilates is a great form of exercise to Centre, Concentrate and Connect with yourself while using up that negative energy to burn calories. Pilates is similar to yoga but emphasizes your body’s core. It strengthens the abdomen, obliques, lower back, inner and outer thigh, butt which is great if you have a desk job as it helps support your posture.

Pilates develops strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, and good posture — with a much lower chance of injury than with other forms of exercise. The discipline emphasizes correct form instead of going for the burn. Which means even if you are absolutely shattered after a hard day you may be able to find enough energy to re-connect before heading home.

peace, tranquility, view, france, stress


Variations

There are a few types of Pilates you can try: Reformer, Hot and Mat.

Reformer: Is great for those who prefer more resistance as the reformer machine allows you to add weights to certain moves. Allowing you to get all the benefits while challenging yourself more. Try Fitness Fusions in Clapham for a challenging Reformer for FREE for your first time or for an all over body changer FRAME Pilates Package.

Hot: Like Bikram Yoga this refreshing way of doing pilates gives you the buzz and energy that you get from hot classes. Challenging and helps achieve the feeling of sweating out the stress. Try HotPodYoga for a sense enlightening session at one of their venues across London.

Mat: Best option for beginners or those who want clarity. You will strengthen your core while improving your posture. Search for your local pilates class to find the right match for you.


Clothing

Wear something reasonably fitting which allows you to move while not restricting you with extra clothing. Leggings from Lululemon or Fabletics are perfect to give you good fitting as well as stylish choices. If you want to rock both style, stretch and ultimate chic then check out the new collaboration between Bodyism x Charlotte Olympia.


Refresh

Pilates doesn’t require as many calories as other activities such as running therefore you do not need to load up after a session. Re-hydrate well as continue with your Supper as you would normally. For an added boost of clarity and de-stress I often have a Pukka Tea from either the Matcha Range (if i do a morning pilates) or Turmeric to soothe and benefit from anti-inflammatory properties from any stresses from work

Balance

Fitness Friday’s: Fitness Fusions

After a hard week in the office which has often been stressful and exhausting it has become the societal norm to head out in the evening and go for drinks. Often than not this can take a greater toll on our mental and physical well-being than the week at work we have just had resulting in us returning to the office the following Monday without have the adequate R&R. Perhaps it is time for a re- think of your weekend activities and focus on something that will restore clarity, strength and a sense of well-being.

Exercises classes these days have transformed from the 1980’s aerobics class into a much more social event with fun names like Destiny’s Child Dance Workout or Light Meditation. They build community and friendships and add an activity to your evening which will leave you in a much better state than other alternatives. Try it this weekend. Make a change to your usual routine and try something new.


This Friday is all about: Fitness Fusions: Class Reformer Pilates

This small Yoga and Pilates business is based in Clapham High Street. Tucked by the side of BetFred really close to Sainsburys. The venue is cute, small team and has beautiful flowers supplied by Bloomon which really brighten up the place.

Reformer Pilates is a different kind of pilates to mat Pilates. Its on a Reformer Machine (see pictures). Reformer targets both large and smaller supporting muscle groups, toning you up like no other exercise. Once your muscles are worked to fatigue by the springs and pulleys you can use small equipment on the reformer gives you that little bit of extra stretch. Because of the extra focus on stretching out your muscles, Reformer Pilates gives you long, lean and toned limbs without adding bulk which other exercises can. By correcting posture in your back and shoulders you’ll be walking taller and leaner.

Come and try it out this week. It is on most days but I will be heading to the 18:15pm class.

Download the Mind Body Online App and get booked in! They are offering your first reformer class free to try! Bargain!

Comment below if you go! I will see you there. Places fill up quick so get booking.

Balance

Using your Senses to relieve Stress: Clarified Designs

Life is full of stress. From the moment we wake up BOOM goes our alarm we are on edge throughout the day. If you live in a city you have to deal with noise, traffic, people, coffee, work, meetings, exercise, emails, telephone calls… the list goes on.

Finding daily ways to calm yourself to keep stress at bay is imperative to make sure you keep balanced. Having an internal toolkit to help you bring your levels back to Zen is key to remaining calm in all situations.

Your senses are key to calmness and clarity. Think about when you visit home and the smell of your mum – that relaxation it sends through you. When you taste that herb that takes you back to when you first tried it. The feeling of your favourite sweater soft against your skin. Your senses can transport you to a place of calm and it is this technique that I want to share with you today.


 

I recently received my beautiful blend from Clarified Designs. An elixir of essential oils in a beautiful necklace to help balance me out. The smell is divine and provides the reminder to take a few minutes in stressful times to stop and effectively smell the flowers.

I wanted to find out more about this wonderful company so I got in contact with their founders to find out more about this inspiring idea.


When was Clarified Designs Founded?

Clarified Designs was founded in our (Rachel and Francesca) joint household in Brisbane August 2015

What was the inspiration behind its creation?

Rachel first introduced me (Francesca) to essential oils in 2014 when we met.

It was about September 2015, where I started becoming more aware of the spiritual and magical properties of the oils while reading at work. (Francesca)

I came home to Rachel explaining how the vibration of oils worked just like crystals, except we could interact with them on a different level (smell) which made them so much more present and permeating to me. I told her how wonderful it would be to wear the oils all day! She had tiny little bottles in her room which she had bought at a craft store a few weeks ago because she thought they were cute!

Coincidence or alignment?

From there the idea was born, we started wearing necklaces and all our friends and family around us wanted to wear them as well!


What attracted you to essential oils?

For both of us it is definitely the luxury of smelling such a potent plant oil. I felt instantly better when I smelt the right oils, and I think on a soul level, I always knew how magical they were.

Essential oils are such a gentle and instantaneous way to soothe your soul, mind and emotions, let alone all their physical benefits as well


Which oil is your favourite?

Francesca: Rose, because I feel she is the queen of all essential oils. She balances a woman’s entire reproductive system, soothes her heart, and instils her with passion, love, patience and elegance.

Rachel: Geranium, because it is extremely balancing and smells floral and herbaceous at the same time.

Internally it calms me down and allows me to embrace everything with positivity.


How important are essential oils for young women in stressful jobs? 

We would say that essential oils have a lot to bring women in stressful jobs.

Not only can they calm the central nervous system, they can help a young woman come to understand her true nature, desires and life purpose.

They will fuel her fire, increase drive, motivation and desire to attain fulfilment.


What blend would you recommend for those trying to balance work stress and life stress?

We could recommend our Shakti blend
This is designed to balance all energies in our body.

Including masculine/feminine energies, hormonal system, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. The Shakti blend calls on the divine masculine and feminine to achieve balance within the body. If you are feeling stagnant or lacking direction the vibrational qualities of the oils in this blend will attract inspiration, movement and energy to you. This blend will help your body listen to its own truth, for without balance we are unable to live to our full potential.

The blend includes the Certified Organic Oils of Atlas Cedarwood, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Geranium and Clary Sage.

It has an incredibly refreshing scent likened to the natural scents of the forest and the earth. Balance yourself with this blend to achieve holistic equilibrium.


 

What advice would you give to people new to essential oils?

First of all it would be to follow your nose.

Head into a trusted aromatherapy company and let your nose lead you to your very first essential oil or blend.

Next step would be to read about how that oil and blend affects you to see if it correlates with what you need in your life.

Letting your intuition guide you to oils can be an amazing experience.

Essential oils are an excellent and non-invasive way of treating physical symptoms, altering your mood and lifting your spirits.


Head on over to their Clarified Designs for any questions you may have about their blends. They now ship across the world so you can order your own personalised blend to bring some balance into your day to day lives.

I keep mine loose around my neck in order that I can bring it out and Zen whenever the weight of the world gets too much. Cute, simple and effective.

 

Explore/ Stress Free Style

Monochrome Mondays: Travel Style

1Style while Travelling

When you travel for work it can be quite difficult looking the part but also making sure you are being realistic with your outfit.
Commuting across london, getting to the airport, the plane journey and then finding your bearings the other side, you need to be prepared so you don’t turn up flustered, sore feet and a little disheveled.

Here is my guide for looking like a Girl Boss no matter the Time Zone.

 


Preparation

Pack and plan the night before. I can’t emphasise how important this is. You will be calm, level headed and prepared. If you don’t you make up on the day stressed, tired, late and forget those key and important documents.

Keep all your travel documents in a slip together. Keep your toiletries in a plastic bag to save time and searching at the airport. Separate your work clothes from casual for a quick change. Bring something extra in case of delays.

If you are going to a business meeting in another country remember you may be asked out for dinner that evening so remember to pack an alternative outfit.


 

8

Footwear

Trust me it is not a good idea to travel in heels. Rushing about even in the smallest heels can wreak havoc on your knees.
You may have to run for you plane, or make a long walk the other side, and you don’t want to be one holding your colleagues back. There is nothing worse than watching someone rush in heels.
Flat shoes don’t need to be the odd thing out on your outfit: edge up your corporate style while travelling.

These Nike Cortez are sleek, monochrome and stylish can be worn with a suit to give it a nonchalant edge of style while keeping you in a position where you’re ready for anything. You can even use those in the evening when exploring the new town you are in and racking up those 10,000 steps.


IMG_3542[1]Accessories

Don’t think outfits – Think Accessories.

How can you make the outfit you’re wearing look completely different? This helps you save on space in your suitcase. A different chunky necklace or a scarf can transform how an outfit looked.
Bring two tops and one set of trousers. Wear your hair-up and long earrings.
This trick is particularly great if you want to sacrifice space to bring your workout gear.

These trousers are my go-to whenever travelling as one day they are high waisted the next they are peg trousers with a sweater.


Workout Gear

Always chuck in a sports bra, leggings, swimsuit and top.

You never know after a long day your hotel may have a gym/ spa. You may even find a local yoga class and then head back for a sauna.

It’s better to be prepared than miss out.


Handbag

Headphones, book, charger, healthy snacks, water and money.

You never know with travelling whether there will be a delay.
Don’t always rely on technology because when the power is gone – its gone.
Keep snacks on you in-case you don’t find a place to grab a bite, you don’t want to be the one with the growling stomach or low energy.

18


Travelling can take its toll on you. Tired, rushed, busy and stressed. If you can take the pressure off yourself in certain areas then you can focus on the job in hand.

What are your tricks for travelling? Would love to hear
Comment Below

 14       17

Recipes

Clean Eating Salads Continued: Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

Here is the continued article from yesterdays Clean Eating Salads…

The Summer is finally here… well kind of… but the sun is trying its hardest!

BBQ season and Salad season is prominent and finding those wonderful and tasty dishes to brighten up your lunch box when you are sat in class and your office!

Me making vegetables

(that’s me 😀 )

I have put together a collection of the salads I throw together when I have friends or family to visit. They are tasty, clean, delicious and even better the next day! This means you have lots to dip into to pair with your protein choices.

BBQ Spread

I have separated each dish to show ingredients, ease and whether you can transport it around…

So lets begin!

Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

Tomato Mozzarella Salad from Above

  • Ease: Easy
  • Transport: Tupperware
  • Goes with: Protein or Veggies…anything really
  • Storage: Fridge 2-4 days

Ingredients:

  • Italian Mozzarella (1-2 balls)
  • Basil
  • Olive Oil
  • Baby Plum tomatoes
  • Orange tomatoes
  • Yellow Tomatoes
  • Maldon Salt

Method:

Slice all the tomatoes into halves or quarters and sprinkle some salt flakes on

Slice the mozzarella into small sizeable chunks

Chop the basil into small bits

Bung them all together and mix up. Drizzle with olive oil and then refrigerate. You want to leave the ingredients long enough to infuse with all the flavours and allow the salt to bring them out.

Once ready – serve!

Tomato Mozzarella Salad with view

Recipes

Clean Eating Salads for BBQ and Lunch Box – Quinoa and Pomegranate Salad

The Summer is finally here… well kind of… but the sun is trying its hardest!

BBQ season and Salad season is prominent and finding those wonderful and tasty dishes to brighten up your lunch box when you are sat in class and your office!

Me making vegetables

(that’s me 😀 )

 

I have put together a collection of the salads I throw together when I have friends or family to visit. They are tasty, clean, delicious and even better the next day! This means you have lots to dip into to pair with your protein choices.

BBQ Spread

I have separated each dish to show ingredients, ease and whether you can transport it around…

So lets begin!

Quinoa, Pomegranate and Feta Salad

quinoa salad with view

  • Ease: Medium
  • Transport: Tupperware
  • Goes with: Protein or Veggies
  • Storage: Fridge 2-4 days

Ingredients:

  • Quinoa (a bag)
  • Garlic (2-3 pieces)
  • Olive oil (glug)
  • Feta (half a packet)
  • Spinach (two hand fulls)
  • Pomegranate (a small pot or one whole pomegranate)
  • Red Onion (1 small onion)
  • Basil to garnish

Method:

Wash the quinoa thoroughly – this is very important as it is covered in saponins and some people are allergic to these and it changes the flavour – when rinsed a light foam will come off it. Once rinsed place in hot water with about a 1:3 Quinoa to Water ratio. At this point for extra flavour you can add a stock cube to the mix.

While the quinoa is cooking… chop the red onion into small squares, the garlic into small chunks and feta into sizeable pieces. When the quinoa is cooked – add the garlic and half of the red onion and a glug of olive oil. The heat from the quinoa should absorb the flavour of the garlic while slightly cooking it. Add half of the feta and stir through in a figure of 8. Again, this should allow the quinoa to take in the flavour and slightly melt the cheese.

Set aside to cool down. Once cool – fluff with a fork. Then add spinach, rest of feta and sprinkle with pomegranate. I usually set aside a little feta and pomegranate for the topping. Add a little black pepper and a swirl of olive oil – garnish with some basil – eh voila! Done and ready to go. Gluten- Free, Beautiful and Down Right Delicious.

Quinoa Salad

 

 

Balance

Today’s Workout: Walk in your lunchbreak

walking on lunch

On your lunch break today – get up and move. Walking in the middle of the day really helps get the blood moving around your body and also helps you shed those pounds which cancreep on when you work an office job

 walking

We should be getting 10,000 steps in a day – so walking on your lunch break can really help boost those numbers. Fresh air and movement is also good for your wellbeing.

treadmill_heels

 

Recipes

Todays Clean Meal: Get your protein

egg

These cheeky little brown shells that most of us have in our fridge can actually be a solution to the morning grumble that usually hits us all around 11am.

Eggs are full of protein! Studies have shown that protein numbs the signal from our tummies to our brains telling us we are hungry. Those little gremlins that make our stomach rumble….actually known as ghrelin… sends a signal to our brain telling us we are hungry. Diets high in protein are a good way to keep hunger in check. Protein in the diet is effective at keeping ghrelin in check, while carbohydrates and fats don’t work that well. Suppression of ghrelin is a way to lose appetite. Fats suppress ghrelin quite poorly. Proteins suppress ghrelin quite well. Carbohydrates suppress ghrelin well at first, but levels rebound later, rising to an even higher level. Carbohydrates eventually make people even hungrier than before they had eaten.

2

Eggs are a great solution! You can boil them the night before and grab it out of the fridge as you run out the door to work!

They come in their own little packaging which you can dispose of…so no carrying around a bowl, spoon and a bottle of milk…

egg

A large egg weighs in approx 70 calories!

All together the winning solution to maintain weight, keeping full and generally a happy tummy!

Snap2

Balance

Today’s Office: Working on a Project

These last two weeks I have been moved from my home in London to the north of the country to the wonderful city of Manchester. Living in a hotel I am away from all my creature comforts, my kitchen and my gym. Working in the modern world – schedules change. We have to be prepared to adapt our lifestyle to meet these changes.

Manchester

I am going to give a little guide to working away from home and tips on how to change your lifestyle to adapt but still keeping in control of your healthy lifestyle:

  • Hotel Gym – When you are booking your hotel try and always go for a hotel with a gym in. Even if you can’t get all of the equipment in your usual workout routine there is nearly always a running machine and a couple of free weights…mix it up – the body will adapt to change and it could give you a refreshing change from your usual routine

Fitness Suite

  • Walking – It is our blessing to have legs to walk with and this form of exercise will keep the pounds off and keep you healthy while working away from home. Find the route from your hotel to work or make time in the evening to explore your surroundings. These extra steps will have huge benefits on your overall well-being. I often use it as my buffer from transitioning from duvet brain to work brain in the morning and my way of letting go in the evening.

walking

  • Lunch Options – Keep it simple. Stick to what you know. I usually prepare all my own food so was quite a shock to have to constantly buy out. The majority of lunch outlets I think are the devil – lacing all their food with sugar, sauce and well s**t. Google healthy options – find pop ups, locally sourced food and food with soul. I was lucky enough to stumble on http://www.shlurp.co.uk/ a soup bar that makes everything fresh, all locally sourced and in season. They have options from Value to Skinny, Veggie to Meat. There is an offer of soup and a salad which is perfect to cover the nice comfort of the warmth and my snack later in the afternoon.

soup and salad

 

  • Dining out – It comes with the territory of working away from home. Nights out with colleagues are frequent and most people have different tastes. Google the menu before you go – ask the waiter for advice – you can keep food wholesome and fun without compromising on the social side. I went to http://lucklustliquorburn.com/ for dinner one evening – a Mexican place – absolutely oozing with food. Cut the fat and naughty calories by having a burrito in a bowl – all the flavour but cutting out the bits my body doesn’t need.

Dude-Diet-Burrito-Bowl-1

  • Home Cooked – When travelling away from home – get in touch with long lost friends or family friends. Use it as an opportunity to catch up and reminisce. If colleagues invite you around – go. The joys of a home cooked meal will banish any home sickness and put some good nutrients in your stomach. Winter is the season of the slow cooker: the hot pot and stew! Get as many of those veggies in as you can.

stew

 

Travelling away from home is hard. Don’t let your standards slip. There are ways to make the changes adapt to you. Change is unavoidable embrace it.

x

Balance

Today’s Workout – Walking to work

As Autumn descends and the nights are getting darker, we naturally feel the inclination to hibernate. Our instinct tells us to start preparing for the winter and our motivation to be outdoors starts to diminish. This may also have a significant impact on our motivation to get up early and go to the gym or pop out in the evening after work for some exercise.

 

This October I am challenging myself walk to work to combat my urge to remain in my duvet all the hours not in work.

Walking is proven to be the most effective form of gentle exercise the body can do which means you will not be shattered when you get to work but you are still burning those calories lost in the hours in the gym. Walking doesn’t require any fancy gym clothes – all you need is a decent pair of trainers and hat and some gloves… oh and a few tunes to keep the beat.

Walking burns on average around 250 calories in 3 miles – which is about 45-60 minute walk depending on your speed. It tones your muscles especially in the areas us girls like – the butt and the thighs and keeps your heart healthy.Powerwalking vs pyjamas

We are creatures of comfort – so use the Autumn season to your advantage and keep active in the run up to Christmas

 

Stress Free Style

Today’s Stiletto H&M Style

h&m

Today I am wearing one of my comfiest high heels – these little black numbers are from H&M and have the ability to dress up even a simple Tee and black trouser look for work.

The sun is out in London Town so the a little peep toe is nice to show a little bit of flesh in the month of April. They are this season so head online or to your local H&M to try on a pair. They look  higher than they are which adds height and also length to your legs.

I find heels can always dress up a casual outfit to make it business casual.

New week with new goals – I have two holidays coming up so hoping to save some money but also work towards that bikini body!

Have a wonderful start to the week.

Stress Free Style

Today’s Outfit – My new satchel

satchel

 

This little baby is my new favourite

I bought it at H&M – http://www.hm.com/gb/product/16710?article=16710-A

It is perfect. It is chic, black, simple and perfect for on the move.

Everyday I power walk to work and this baby has saved my posture from side bags

Its so stylish you can pull it off as casual and office wear

A Perfect Purchase