Exciting Times Ahead!!!

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great week!

I'm feeling really Positive today as I had a Great end to last week....

As some of you may have seen, EBW are opening their own facility! This is such great news for not only James, Ben and Katie who have worked incredibly hard to get to this point, but also for all the clients of theirs who have been waiting for this for a very long time! So a massive Well Done and Congratulations to them and I look forward to settling into the new facility with everyone and watching the business grow even more!!



Obviously we needed to celebrate! So Saturday night meant a lovely Thai Meal and, of course, Bubbles! (Ok, I felt this occasion would warrant a break in ED - but it would have been the reintroduction of alcohol...!)

The subject of Thai ties in nicely with my last blog and an update on how the curry for 20 people went...

Well, I think it went pretty damn well if I do say so myself! I wanted it to be fresh so I cooked it on Sunday morning, having done all the shopping prep on Saturday. I have to say, the morning went without a glitch! I surprised myself at being able to cook food for that many people - although a curry is probably the easiest meal to mass-cook! But considering I made it from scratch, I was glad I managed to adjust timings correctly to allow the dish to be tip top with no mistakes!

De-lish!!!!

3kgs Lamb Curry and 1kg Jasmine Basmati Rice

 

 I had pretty amazing feedback too, which I hadn't expected for just a curry! And silly me thought there would be leftovers...no such luck! I am really glad that people enjoyed it and have asked me for the recipe, so here goes....!

Frankis Massaman Curry, Serves 4

• 600g Diced Lamb
• 500ml of Veg or Lamb stock (just water, salt and pepper if elimination)
• 3 Bay Leaves
  
• 1 thumb sized piece of Ginger, peeled and finely chopped / grated
• 4 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 Lemongrass stalks, finely chopped
• 2 Red Chillies, finely chopped (don’t deseed if a spicier curry is preferred)
• 2tsps Fresh Coriander, crushed
• 2tsps Ground Cumin
• 3tsps Turmeric
• 4 Cardamon pods, shelled – use seeds
• 1 Star Anise - optional
• 2tbsps Brown Sugar (leave out if elimination)
• 2 tbsps Fish Sauce (Gluten free)
• 100g Unsalted Cashews (not for elimination)
• Himalayan Pink Salt to taste
• Black Pepper to taste
• 400ml coconut milk or 500ml coconut cream
• 250ml coconut cream (extra and optional – see rice)
• Fresh Corriander Leaves
• 1-2 potatoes, diced. For Elimination, use parsnips (I included green beans to add some extra nutrients)

1. Place the lamb in a large saucepan with the stock and bay leaves
2. On a medium heat, cook for 90 minutes, making sure it is covered. Stir occasionally and bring the heat down if it bubbles too much.
3. Whilst this is cooking, mix the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl, including the coconut milk / cream and the parsnips’ and leave to one side – this gives the ingredients a chance to bind together. Leave a few of the nuts aside and crush
4. Once the lamb has cooked for 90mins, add the sauce ingredients and simmer for a further 30-40 mins depending on the lamb / parsnip tenderness
5. Roast the cashews for 5 mins, or until golden brown.
6. Serve with jasmine basmati rice. For amore indulgent treat, make the rice with coconut cream as well as a bit of water.  Sprinkle the roasted nuts and fresh coriander on the curry
Enjoy J

 So there you go! Give it a go and let me know what you think!

Speaking of ED - how am I doing? Well....

So after 2 weeks, this is my progress picture




Left - November 26th after 16 days on ED
Middle - January 6th, restarting ED
Right -   January 21st Day 16 of ED

Since January 6th, I have lost 2kgs and 1.2% Body Fat - pleased with that!!

I can certainly see a change, albeit not quite the same as last time! I think the first time I did it, I was 'afraid' to eat any carbs (white rice) and I saw my weight fall to the lowest it has been (since I was a teenager anyway!)

Happy that my single ab is back! Just frustrating that I didn't get the flatness of my stomach back - but I think this is down to the Op I had - I have been told to expect a rounded tummy until at least March.... But I will persevere with it as again, I have felt so much better from doing it!

I have to give a special mention to one of my good friends Kat Dacre, a non gym buddy (yes, I do actually have some of those) - She invited me and our other old college friend Lauren over for lunch on Day 13, offering to cook us up a treat.


I told her from the outset about the diet and that I was happy to bring my own lunch to save her the hassle. Bless her, she told me she liked a challenge and told me to explain what I could have. So I did. And I was overwhelmed - she cooked up an amazing Indian Feast, complete with onion free Curried Seabass, Cardamon Carrots, Spiced Okra and Fluffy White Rice! Yes, sat around the table I was questioned about what I was doing to which I explained - and no one thought I was weird / fussy etc, they were genuinely interested in what I was doing and asking questions for information, not to judge. Thanks Ladies (and Dan!) xx



Anyway, I digress...

The Reintroductions

Day 15 - Caffeine
Yay! I had some lovely Monmouth Coffee finally! I already knew I was ok with Caffeine, so I just wanted a fix. I had 2 cups of black coffee and some ginger green tea with no reactions - wonderful!





















Day 16 - Nuts
I deviated from the original plan of Beef and opted for nuts as I wanted to try an adaption of the Fitter Foods Turkey and Chestnut Burgers - I added in some cranberries as they had suggested for their Christmas Scotch Eggs - yummy! Although, I am still trying really hard to like turkey...!






Day 17 - No Reintroduction
Nothing today, just back to completely clean as upon waking, I had a swollen, painful stomach....Hmm, would seem that Nuts may be on my 'off' list.....!

Day 18 - Potatoes
I am always dubious about eating potatoes, I always feel like they will bloat me!! Today I snacked on some baked sweet potato cubes and had homemade bubble and squeak with salmon for lunch (no onion in the B&S)! No reaction but did feel very full up and didn't fancy my dinner... so I will try both types again, on different days to see if it was one type in particular or both (I hope not, I bloody LOVE Sweet Potato!)

Day 19 - Pork, well, Chorizo!
I decided to try Chorizo again as last year Zuz and I had an infatuation with the stuff and had it nearly every day for lunch....which was not ideal at all! I had selflessly given up my homemade chilli to James that morning so it left me heading to the supermarket for lunch. I decided on Chorizo and salad bits. It was ok...I just noticed how incredibly salty it was and it didn't fill me up for very long!

Day 20 and 21 - Dairy and Sugar....and Champagne!
Ok so I may have slightly gone off track! I had some Salted Caramel Ice cream (only 2 teaspoons though!) and some chocolate on Saturday - I was celebrating! and also 2 glasses of Champers at dinner. So not toooo bad...! Sunday saw a breakfast meeting with the EBW team, so that was eggs, sausage and bacon...but no reaction which was a bonus! In the evening, I made my curry for my family, they were visiting us especially....! And I thought it would be rude not to make a dessert - so I made an Upside Down Apple Tart with Coconut Whipped Cream, courtesy of my Christmas present from mum - a Paleo cookbook from http://www.elanaspantry.com/




Think I need to work on my Almond Flour Pastries!


I'll admit that I do not feel great today, waking again with a bloat so I am back to clean Elimination! Until I came to work to have my First Free Graze Box delivered to me...Take a look at what they sent me....

Chocolates!
Brownies!
Fudge!


Uh Oh...... !!What are they doing to me...!? (Secretly, I don't mind too much....!)


Oops, Just realised how long this post is!

But one more thing.....

Training - so what am I doing right now?

Ha, well I have decided to enter another Competition! Eeek! Not Olympic Lifting though. Nope, this time, a Strongwoman Competition....! Don't worry, I will make up my mind soon on what I actually want to do, once my stomach and damn knee heal!

This Comp will see me competing in the u63kg category, meaning women who are potentially up to 10 kgs heavier than me..... Events include;

70kg Worlds Strongest Man Squat for reps
35kg Log Press for Reps
50kg Arm over Arm Pull for speed
50kg (each hand) Farmers, 15 meters x 2 for speed
Loading Medley 20kgs-40kgs.

And this is in April. Hmmmm. So for the foreseeable, my PT Sessions will revolve around the above events - I am already quietly confident at my ability for the log and the Squat, I can currently do about 47.5kg farmers in under 15 seconds but for a shorter distance...and the other two will just need to be worked on for technique - but I think I could do well. For me anyway, I very highly doubt I could place, and this is more for me to train towards something and hit some PBs.

But you never know who will be there and how well I will do!

I shall keep you posted on my Comp Prep Progress too...!

Wow, I like to pile on the pressure don't I....Full Time Job, Part Time assistance with EBW, writing a blog, concocting recipes, training for a competition and I have found a new like for Yoga.....phew...! Ah well, I LOVE IT!!!

Hope you are all doing well with your set goals! Has anyone got any recipes they would like to share? Have you decided to try something new to see how it can benefit you?

Ok, really, ONE more important thing....

If you woud like any more information, or are interested in the Services that EBW have to offer, please send an email to info@elite-bodyworks.com or visit their webpage www.elite-bodyworks.com


Franki x  

Feeding The 5,000

Wow! I have surpassed 5,000 views in only 5 months! I am certainly surprised this has reached so many of you lovely lot, thank you so much for continuing to read and share!





 


So as you have probably guessed by now, I quite like food and cooking! Over the last few months, I have found great joy in  researching recipes and adapting them to suit my dietary needs. Even better...other people like my creations too and ask me for recipes! Who knows, I may have just found my new vocation....!






Due to this, I am undertaking my biggest challenge to date; cooking my interpretation of a Lamb Mussaman Curry for 20 hungry mouths on Sunday...!! EBW are holding one of their One Day Cures, and always provide a Paleo Lunch - so I have been tasked with cooking up a lunchtime meal to help further fuel all those training for the afternoon ....Wish me luck! I will post picture proof of this mean feat next time..!

Naturally, I had to have one last practice last night, and as always, made far too much for just two people....but that's the best bit as dishes like curries and chillies can be used for breakfast / lunch or dinner the following day...it's a great time saver!!

The curry recipe has got to be one of my favourites to date, and even better, the substitutions I have made haven't effected the taste at all! Here are just a few of the ingredients I use for the sauce...can you guess any of them?

 

One Recipe I will share with you is my Elimination Diet friendly Chilli....Chilli without tomatoes or onions? Surely not? Well...it's pretty damn close..!

Approx. 4 Servings

Ingredients

800g Lamb Mince - I love the mince from our local farm shop, great quality and flavour!
400ml Water or Vegetable stock if preferred (this isn't ED)
1-2 Red Chillies - use according to taste preferences. Don't de-seed if you prefer the extra kick!
2 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped
4tsps Smoked Paprika
3tsps Ground Cumin
2tsps Fresh, ground Coriander
2tsps Mild Chilli Powder
1/2 Red Pepper and 1/2 Yellow Pepper, diced
Coconut Oil for cooking

Method:

In a large saucepan, heat a little coconut oil on mid heat whilst you prepare the ingredients for the sauce and add the mince to brown.

Once the mince is mostly browned, add all the above ingredients to the saucepan and mix in well with the mince.

Cover the pan and simmer for 40-50mins, stirring occasionally to ensure it doesn't stick to the pan.

Serve with fluffy white rice, or if avoiding carbs, cauliflower and broccoli rice...YUM :)

*Adjust quantities as needed if making batches of this as the meat can be cooled and frozen (and chilli always tastes nicer after a day...!) *

Do you have any 'go-to' recipes? Anyone else like to experiment with ingredients and produce great dishes?


I have just found three more recipes to try (and will adapt) from the good ol' Fitter Foods guys...That's dinner, breakfast and lunch sorted for me!

ED Progress

As I pledged, I have been following ED since January 6th and have done well! My weight is down 1.5kgs and my body fat is 1% down...and that was on the morning of day 7...so I am hoping for equally good results on day 14...!


Day 15 I think I will reintroduce coffee as I am dying to try the new Monmouth Coffee we have...!

Day 16, Beef...a nice big steak!

No Tomatoes and Onions as I know from previous experience they don't agree with me anyway!!

I will continue to reintroduce food groups over those following 14 days and see how I get on. I already know from these first two weeks that swede doesn't do my bloating any favours...so that is out!

Is anyone else trying a new diet this new year? How are you all doing with New Years resolutions? The gym I go to seems mega busy at the minute...I haven't seen that many people in a 7am class for a long time! Hopefully they all keep it up!

Franki x

Christmas at the Smith / Nop House!

 

Welcome Back All, and a very Happy New Year!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and New Year Break, I know I did! Lots of Food, Family and Festivities!

So, 'fess up, who over-indulged?! I did, and I am not ashamed to admit it - I enjoyed all the food and wine I treated myself too over my 2 week break from work! (Although admittedly, I am paying for it now, but who cares right?!)

"2014  -  New Year, New Me!!"

How many times have you heard or read this recently?! Yes, it is rather Cliche, and for this reason, I chose not to use this expression, but instead change it slightly to make it relevant to me...

"2014  -  New Year, Improved Me!"

I don't want to change who I am or what I do to better impress anyone else or conform to other peoples ideas of "good" or "hard working", I am proud of what I achieved last year, and all I want to do is to further improve my Progress, Health and Well Being! And that should be everyones' outlook, shouldn't it? In all honesty, self-improvement is much more about your own feeling than those of others, so make your Health and Fitness Goals about YOU and what YOU want, not what you think they should be based on other people's opinions!

Ooooh...bit much for the first post of the year? Maybe, but just wanted to set my point :)

Anyway...moving on to something more chirpy...!

"So, how will You and James spend Christmas?"
A question asked by several different people - be it from the gym, our separate social circles and family alike, almost with the preconception that we were planning a completely clean Christmas...avoiding the wine (no way, we love wine!) and "dreaded carbs"

Well, Christmas Day, we had a VERY large Roast, all the trimmings of course, followed by Dessert. Then the evening came and we ate lots of cheese and crackers... YUM YUM YUM!


Then came our turn to Host on Boxing Day. As I shared in December, I had already started prepping a few lovely dishes, but here are some foodie pics (gotta love em!) of the culinary delights we tucked into....
Fitter Foods' Xmas Scotch Eggs, 1.5kgs of Thick Farmshop Ham (plus roasted Duck and Beef!) Salad, AMAZING Veggie crisps courtesy of Costco, Fitter Foods' Yule Log, a homemade Banoffie Pie (thanks to James' mum) and homemade Almond Butter Chocolate Cups....amongst other things you can see on my lunch plate!!

I won't take all the credit, hats off to James for preparing a yummy, succulent duck, teamed with extra crispy fat and a wonderful joint of Beef, cooked to perfection!



 

 

So, this was our Christmas Feast, with a few bottles of red over the few days too!

As much as I enjoyed the food and being relaxed, I have to admit, I am itching to get back to clean eating and the gym!!!

I had planned a few sessions over my time off, but my back has been so bad, just doing the food shopping was painful enough! I managed 2 of my planned 5 sessions - better than nothing though, right?

So...keen to get back on it and feel good again, I will publish the below photo - the left is me, November 26th, after 15 days on the Elimination Diet -  the right is me on the 3rd January after the Festive Break....Ooops!

But I am not going to stress about it, it happens! I managed to get to the picture on the left easily (!) enough, so I know I can get back there! Ergh, now I have seen the difference, I'm not best pleased I must say...!

Monday 6th January sees me getting back on the ED and getting rid of this bloat!

Watch This Space!!

How are you feeling after the food hype has now been and gone? What goals are you setting yourself?

I have already seen plenty of people publicising their goals, and I will be interested to watch their progress!!


Just before I sign off, I must mention 2 of my favourite Christmas Gifts... Personalised Nike iD Trainers from James, and this cute FireDaughter Racerback Tee from Zuz. Thankyou to you both for such apt gifts :) xxx

Franki xx