Baking delights

I've been a little housewife in training the last few weeks, firstly making delicious vanilla cupcakes with pink vanilla buttercream icing for a girlfriends engagement party, who was kind enough to fly me over to NZ especially for it! So lovely! The cupcakes were made using crabapple cupcake bakeries book, and they are to die for! The cupcakes themselves are pretty low cal, especially the mini versions, but wow that icing is full of sugar! Definitely a treat to be consumed in small amounts!!

Later this week once back home I made some low cal mixed berry muffins. I was a bit naughty and used Betty Crocker packet mix, and just omitted the mixed berry mix in favour of 2 cups of frozen raspberries and blueberries. They are actually really good! Perfect with a pot of tea of skinny latte in my break at work, and at about 150cals per serve, you can enjoy them guilt free :)

Next week i'm looking forward to baking my best friend some adorable champagne cupcakes! I've been dying to try these, hopefully they turn out well! Will post the results :)

Have your cake.. and eat it too!

Now eating healthy is no reason to give up things you love! It's all about moderation!

I made this flourless chocolate cake for my mum for mothers day (she is gluten intolerant) and she is kind enough to share with me! I warmed it in the microwave, and paired it with 50g natural fat free yogurt and 1/2 a cup of frozen mixed berries which I also warmed in the microwave. Mmm so delicious, you could even add some vanilla paste or essence to the yogurt for extra yumminess :)

I keep my calories in check by only having a small piece (recipe serves 12, I make it 24)

That way you can have your cake and eat it too!

The recipe can be found here:
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/27864/flourless+chocolate+cake
(I left out the coffee)

Lucy xx

Protein Pancakes take 2

So this morning I decided to give the Blogilates version of a pre-contest protein pancake a go. Although mine didn't turn out as fluffy (I think because I use musashi protein powder) but they were definitely a lot more tasty. I added sugar free maple syrup and some blueberries :)
Recipe was as follows:
1 egg
30g vanilla protein powder
1/3 cup light soy milk
1 tbs psyllium husk

Mix ingredients together, cook in a lightly greased pan until golden on both sides.

I followed my pancakes with a Madame Flavour tea, Green Jasmine & Pear, yum! I'm obsessed with herbal teas and probably drink at least 3 pots a day, I'm excited to use my new tea pot infuser with loose leaf tea once I use up all my tea bags! What are your favourite types of tea?

Lucy xx

Protein Pancakes!

This morning I wanted to try something different, so decided to try the Protein Pancake recipe from Blogilates, which Cassey had altered from the girls at Tone It Up.

I changed the recipe slightly, and made a little more as I like a substantial breakfast, so the below recipe is half what I made today:

2 eggs (1/4 cup)
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp psyllium husk
2 tbs light soy milk (I prefer Soy Milky Lite)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl (mine was a little lumpy but that didn't affect the pancakes). Cook in a non-stick pan, make them small or big (I made a few small ones but in future would maybe make 2 large ones). Flip when bubbles begin to appear in top.

I also heated 80g of frozen fruit in a saucepan to drizzle over, and next time will try maple syrup instead.

The pancakes weren't as sweet as the normal kind, but we're still tasty, however they are a little dry so topping is necessary. The banana in tone it ups original recipe may help combat this too. They were very filling, but not as good as my porridge! But being so high in protein and low in carbs is great!! I may try Blogilates version with a whole egg and no cinnamon next time too.

http://toneitup.com/blog.php?Protein-Pancakes-Low-carb-low-fat-and-delicious-1973

http://blogilates.com/recipe-index/healthy-breakfasts/pre-contest-protein-pancakes

Lucy xx

Summer here I come

Now despite this beautiful sunny weather in Melbourne, I'm well aware winter is about to rear its ugly head. Lucky for me I'm heading over to enjoy European summer for a month in June! I'm so excited, but saving has never been my forte, and being unable to shop is torture for me when I work in retail!

I've decided though that if I manage to lose the last 3kg before I leave to get my perfect bod, I'm going to reward myself with a brand new bikini to show off all my hard work!

My favourite Australian label Zimmermann has released the first of their resort collection, and I'm pretty much in love with everything, but this bikini especially! Gotta work hard though, great inspiration for my ab work out at the gym!

What do you reward yourself with when you meet diet and fitness goals?

Lucy xx

Strength training!

A little over a year and a half ago I discovered my love of strength training. Strength and resistance training is such a fantastic way to lose fat and improve your physique, because not only are you strengthening your muscles, your doing cardio at the same time!

I like to change up my routine to keep things interesting every 3 months. Here are some examples of exercises I do, a lot of them can be done at home!

5 minute warm up (I like to run)
3 x 10 bar push ups
3 x 10 assisted chin ups
3 x 10 squats with weighted barbell
3 x 20 weighted walking lunges
3 x 1 minute bosu ball planks (as shown in picture from thefitnessdude.com - 30 seconds in position C then 30 in position A)
3 x 30 second boxing with dumbbells
3 x 10 tricep dips
3 x 10 lat pull downs
5 minutes of intervals on rowing machine (30 seconds normal pace, 30 seconds your fastest pace, repeat)

Don't forget to stretch afterwards! I walk home from the gym and use that as my cool down.

Of course you don't need to do all of these, and do the number of sets/reps that works for you :)

I'm feeling good, looking forward to some delicious baked salmon and steamed veggies for dinner!!

Lucy xx

what a beautiful day!

I woke up to a gorgeous sunny day today and was SO happy to have the day off! I love warm and sunny weather, it really makes me want to be outside and active, so I just had to take one of my little ones for a nice long walk!

Missy absolutely loved a run as you can see, and I loved wearing shorts in May, unheard of in Melbourne!!

On my way home I grabbed my daily skinny latte from my local organic cafe (so delish) and came home to eat some lunch:
100g Jalna Fat Free Natural Yogurt
2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder
45g Carman's Natural Bircher Museli (love this one because it's all natural and only sweetened by honey)

I stir the protein powder in first before adding the Museli, it tastes good fresh but even better if you leave it in the fridge a few hours! Yum!

I like to get as much protein in my meals as possible, but you could skip it if you like and just add a teaspoon of honey, or use Greek yogurt instead :)

I'll be heading to the gym shortly for a strength work out and will post my routine when I get home

Lucy xx