Health and Fitness Update #1

Hey everyone, hope your week has been going well. I decided to try out this new series where I share my journey with you all. This is to motivate you and I to take care of our bodies from the inside out. 

My tank is from Six3Collective. Use the discount code JENNOS to get 10% off at checkout!

My Goals

1. To have greater ab definition by April 30th 2015. I'll need to consume more fresh fruits and veg with 90% of my meals and drink at least 2 litres of water daily. I should do ab workouts everyday for at least 5 minutes. 
2. Do 20 push-ups by April 30th 2015. Unfortunately I haven't got good upper body strength. In order to improve I need to practice doing 5 in the morning and evening. 
3. Start growing organic vegetables by April 30th 2015. Organic eating is costly. By growing your own veg you are saving money and becoming more self-sufficient! I need a propagator and 6 grow bags to begin. 

So that's all of my health related goals! Leave a comment down below what your goals are and do you have any tips on how to achieve mine?

"Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement" -Brian Tracy

Health and Fitness Book Haul

I never really use to enjoy reading. That was because I wasn't interested in the genre of the books at all. The only book I really loved in primary school was Holes by Louis Sachar. Finding out what sort of books your interested in makes the task less daunting. Reading plays a bigger role in our lives that you can imagine, in school, work even on social media!

A website that I love for purchasing books is called Book Depository. They cater for nearly all books of all genres for unbeatable prices and free shipping worldwide! I highly recommend browsing through their amazing selection. 

1. Greatest Guide to Green Living by Lynne Garner. This book aims to give you tips to live a greener lifestyle in your home, work and on holiday. I think it's crucial we take care of planet Earth as it's not ours. We are simply stewards trying to make it better for the next generation. 
2. Healthy Feasts by Joy Skipper. The author shares recipes ranging from seafood to snacks. Each dish is illustrated in three ways. You choose either a 30, 20 or 10 minute recipe. I love trying out new recipes so expect a lot of food posts on my blog and Instagram.
3. The China Study by Thomas M. and Colin Campbell. These doctors conducted a study on the relationship between diet and disease. It is one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted on nutrition. It gives an insightful message to those suffering from cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes etc. 
4. Love Yourself and Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. This is a workbook about change in all areas of your life i.e health, fears, addictive behaviours etc. I'm a big believer in self reflection, if you cannot pinpoint the problem it cannot be solved! 
5. Food for Fitness: How to eat for maximum performance by Anita Bean. This nutrition guide and recipe book is designed to bust all of the food myths concerning working out. When it comes to performing in a sport it's crucial that you get the right information from the right source. 
6. Make your own rules diet by Tara Stiles. Tara hopes to bring easy ways to practice yoga, meditation and healthy food into our lives. I'm a student and I get stressed at times and I find it very hard to keep calm and carry on. Hopefully this book encourages me to adopt these healthy habits. 

P.S if you click on the titled books above it will link you to Book Depository where you can purchase it. 

Would you like me to review any of these books?
Have you heard of any of these books? 
What genre of books do you like? 

"Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them" -Lemony Snicket

My Current Tea Favourites

Hey everyone! So I got the opportunity to try out a selection of Bewley's Speciality Teas. I really enjoyed sampling the variety of teas and receiving great health benefits in return. I never use to like drinking tea but with the range of flavours it's hard to resist.

My favourite was the Rooibos Blood Orange herbal tea. It's known for antioxidant properties. Antioxidants prevent types of cell damage leading to cancer etc. They are caffeine free and is scented with Blood Orange for its sweet tangy taste and vibrant colour. 

A close runner up would have to be the Pure White Tea with cranberry. It was my first time trying white tea so I didn't know what to expect. White tea is a premium quality tea that is produced in limited quantities in select locations globally I was quite glad that Bewleys stocked them. The cranberry pieces complemented the tea well adding a fruity taste and pleasant aroma.

I really enjoyed the Peppermint herbal tea as it gave a cooling and calming effect. It has such a refreshing taste and really helps to improve my alertness while studying. I highly recommend it for students!

The Pure Camomile tea was perfect for those days I came home from a long day at school. It helped me to relax and unwind. It also had a great calming effect for days I was feeling a bit tense. 

Finally the Pure Green Tea Sencha tea was quite nice. It didn't have a distinct taste as I drink green tea every day. I liked it but the difference was minor in comparison to the original blend of green tea. 

Do you drink tea? What are your favourite kinds to drink? Have you tried Bewley's tea?

Bewley's Specialty Teas can be purchased at their cafes in Arnotts and George's Street. 

"A woman is like a tea bag, you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water" -Eleanor Roosevelt

What I Ate Wednesday #6

Happy Wednesday! Hope you are having a great day. What did you eat today? 

Throughout the day I consumed water and tea!

***Breakfast*** 

 5 medium oat pancakes drizzled with agave nectar.

***Snack*** 

Green smoothie. (recipe)

***Lunch***

Chicken and Veg soup. (store bought) 

***Dinner***

Roast potatoes with stuffed turkey, brussel sprouts, parsnips drizzled with gravy.

"No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop eating after one peanut." -Channing Pollock

Running 101

Running is a very popular exercise as it's not only beneficial to your entire body but your mind. It's also free and requires little to no skill. Meet Alex a 15 year old Irish Runner.

• When and why did you take up running?

I started running in a club when I was 11 because my older brother trained there and I thought it would be fun.

• What has your experience been like with running so far?

My experiences with running have been very good in the past, runners are far nicer and 

friendlier than cyclists, triathletes and swimmers from what I can see.

• Is it as hard as everyone thinks it is?

It mostly isn't as hard as people think it is some people just say that as an excuse for being lazy, although it does require consistent training. the hardest part is actually going out to run..The running itself is fun, but to actually motivate yourself to go outside and do it especially in bad weather is the hardest part.

• What would you recommend for those who want to start running?

I'd recommend people who want to start running to go to their nearest club with some friends, You'll enjoy going down to it if your friends are there too. Also enter races and competitions because you need to race to improve.

• Alex's Achievements

7K All-Ireland Champion

7th in British and Irish Mountain running championships

I find having a good pair of earphones takes my mind off running. Click here for my review on the best pair for exercising.

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, NYC marathon co-founder.