Ambronite Supermeal Drinks Review

We all know that to maintain a healthy diet ensuring you eat regular meals is essential. One meal that I often struggle with is breakfast. I often find that I am not hungry first thing so put it off then before I know it lunch time has arrived and I have missed the all important first meal. So when Ambronite got in touch with me to ask if I would like to try out their drinkable super meal shakes I though it would be the perfect way to start the day.

For me it was important that the shakes were not to be used for slimming purposes as I do not think shake diets for slimming work in the long run. But the shakes are an ideal way to make sure you are not missing any meals while getting a boost of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Each serving of Ambronite shakes contain:

• 10g of plant based protein
• Fibre
• 9 veggies, berries and fruits
• Omega 3
• 29 food based vitamins and minerals
• NO dairy, wheat or GMOS

Race for Life Energy Boost Flapjacks

Last week my mum and I completed the race for life. We usually run in the morning but the race for life was being held in the evening so I knew that we would both need an energy boost both before and after the race. This is how this recipe came along. After doing some research into foods I discovered that malt extract is a fantastic, healthy way to boost sugar levels and replenish your energy levels. Malt extract is not something that is widely available in supermarkets but I did find some in our local Holland and Barrett store. In this recipe I have paired the malt extract with honey, bananas, dates and plenty of protein!

This is what I did...

Food for Healthy Hair

Recently I have been looking more closely about what vitamins and minerals are good various aspects of our health. At the moment I have been looking how food can benefit the health of my hair. Last summer I had a hair disaster. I decided that I wanted to change the colour of my hair from dark brown to blonde. Yes I thought that I would save some money and do it myself. Not surprisingly it did not go as planned. My hair went from dark brown to orange! This happened just before we were due to go on holiday with Carnival Cruise. I ended up getting the colour sorted at a hair dressers which did get the colour looking good but it did damage the condition of my hair. It needed a lot of bleach and toners and since then the health of my hair has not been fantastic. I try not use heat products unless I am going somewhere special and use deep conditioning products. But to try and repair my hair the natural way I have been looking at what foods will help to naturally repair the colour damage that I have done. Eating the correct balance of minerals, nutrients and vitamins will help to keep your hair shiny, lustrous and strong.

This is what I have discovered...

Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Calsway Snacks Review - Plus Dessert Recipe!

Eating right just got a lot easier with the new health brand Calsway. Calsway have recently announced the launch of their Eat Right® (#EatRight) range of snacks.

Like the majority of busy people finding a healthy snack for on the go can be hard. But Calsway have created a range of naturally delicious snacks that finally solve this problem. Trying to follow a healthy eating plan you are bombarded by what you can and cannot eat, the amount of calories to consume, weighing foods, following a 'diet' can be exhausting. These Calsway snacks come pre packed in resealable pouches that come in 100, 150 and 200 calorie packets with both paleo and vegan options available. When Calsway contacted me to ask if we would like to try one of their variety boxes I knew that they could solve both my snacking problems and finding healthy snacks for the children.

Handwriting and your Health!

I love to write, I find that it is both therapeutic and a way for me to vent and get things out of my system. So when I was asked if I would like to share with you a guest post all about how writing is good for your health I knew that it would be fitting.

Photograph courtesy of Pixabay

Handwriting and your Health - A Collaborative Guest Post

Handwriting is good for the mind 

Handwriting is good for your health. Picking up a pen is a way of fast-tracking the memory banks to retain information.

Picking up a pen is good for your health 

In a research document published by Pam A. Mueller and Daniel M. Oppenheimer, they found that students writing out their notes longhand with a pen rather than using a keyboard could recall more information. It took them longer to write their notes rather than to type. The researchers emphasised how writing engages more parts of the brain and therefore aids memory retention. Laptops and tablets come alive with distracting alerts and pop-ups demanding more power from the brain’s processor.

Getting Fit with DW Fitness Centre

Regular readers of Hijacked By Twins will know that I am on a weight loss journey. So far I have lost over 2 stone by following the Slimming World plan. But as the weight has come off my focus has gone to my fitness. Like most mums I have areas which need toning up and I know that there are bits that will get better but simply will not go back to how they were pre twins. Finally I am in a place where I am happy with that. I am finally feeling happy with my body and am loving the increased activity that I am doing. I recently signed up to take part in the Cancer Research Race for Life which gave me a target. When I signed up I could not run for 1 minute let alone for 5k, but now after training, I can and I am confident that I will complete the run. So when DW Fitness Clubs got in touch to ask if I would like to try out their facilities and some of their sports wear the timing was perfect.

Super Boost Green Matcha Smoothie

Since starting Slimming World 25 weeks ago I have noticed my body and tastes change a great deal. Now that I have stepped up my weight loss plan to include more activity what I eat and drink has changed even more. On the days that I exercise my appetite is bigger but for good foods. Before I exercise I have an oat based breakfast and try to include banana for energy and a natural peanut butter to help the long term release of energy. My favourite way to start a gym day is with a lovely big bowl of my Full of Energy Porridge.

Whether you are exercising or not what you drink is also an important part of your diet. When I drink alcohol my whole body feels it and it effects the way I eat. So I am trying to make a conscious effort to not drink as much, limiting it to the odd drink. I have started to add super green matcha to my drinks again and on a gym day the matcha really does give me an added boost! In the past I have written about matcha and what a great drink and ingredient it is. I have used it in porridge, cakes and drinks. When I have matcha in my diet I find that my energy levels are higher, my moods are better and I generally feel better in myself. Over the last few weeks I have been starting the day with a delicious, green smoothie. It has become a loved part of my daily routine hence why I am sharing it with you today!

How a Healthy Diet is Essential for a Healthy Mind - Guest Post

There is evidence to suggest that good nutrition is essential for mental health and physical health. There are several mental health conditions that may be influenced by dietary factors.

In a recent study, two thirds of people who did not report mental daily health issues ate fresh fruit or fruit juice every day, compared with less than half of those who did report daily mental health problems.

Eating well balances mood and feelings of wellbeing, with leading mental health charities such as Mind advocating that healthy eating courses should sit alongside treatments from GPs and specialists.

Kale and Egg Brunch

Since starting the Slimming World eating plan back in October I have been focused on good, healthy food to get my weight down. I have now lost 30lbs and now is the time to start thinking about toning up and getting fit. My weight loss has slowed down and this is due to me relaxing the eating plan a little and then need for more exercise. I was recently referred to the gym via my lovely doctor who could see how my belly was affecting me. During my twin pregnancy I got huge and my poor stomach was stretched more than I thought it was possible. I carried two, beautiful, healthy babies so believe me I am not ashamed of how my stomach looks now. It is a testament to carrying two 6lbs babies at the same time. But I do get very uncomfortable as I have been left with excess skin. After visit the doctor, who I will admit was so much more understanding than I was expecting she advised me to loose weigh, which I am doing, and improve my fitness. After waiting for almost 4 months I got the call from the gym! I have had my induction session and a tailor made workout has been set for me. This week is my second week of going to the gym. At the moment I have only been twice but I am hoping to up it to 2 sessions a week. 

Now that I am focusing on my fitness, the food, on my gym days, has changed. I am not concentrating so much on the 'syns' but eating what I know is good for me. Before I go to the gym I start the day with a bowl of my Full of Energy Porridge. This bowl of porridge is full of goodness from the oats, banana, cinnamon and peanut butter, just what my body needs before a good workout. What you eat after a workout is just as important. Protein is essential after exercise as it helps to repair your muscles. My go to protein foods are eggs and chicken. Today I am sharing with you one of my favourite post workout meals, Kale and Egg Brunch. This is such a simple meal that is full of flavour and full of goodness!

This is what I did...

Naked Coleslaw - Low FODMAP and Syn Free

For the next few weeks we are following the FODMAP eating plan.

For years the hubby has suffered from digestive discomfort and one day while he was looking on the internet he discovered the FODMAP plan. FODMAP stands for Fermantable Oligo-saccharides Di-saccharides Mono-saccharides and Polyols, otherwise known as FODMAP's. FODMAP's are carbohydrates that can be hard to digest and cause digestive discomfort and eliminating foods which contain these carbohydrates can ease symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, gases and bowel problems. They are found in various fruits, vegetables, dairy and many other foods. After doing my own research and visiting various different websites I now have a list of FODMAP foods. The list is divided into two sections, high 'red' FODMAP foods, which I need to avoid in the hubby's meals and low 'green' FODMAP foods which he can eat.

This has meant that my meal plans need to be planned more carefully. Now when I write my weekly meal plan I am carefully looking at the ingredients that are needed for each individual meal and adapting them accordingly.

When I was planning this weeks meals I found a recipe in the Slimming World magazine that I knew everyone would love, but it was served with a homemade coleslaw which contained many high FODMAP ingredients. This got me thinking how I could make a coleslaw type salad that is both syn free for me and, of course, low FODMAP for the hubby. What I created was a huge success and is now a firm favourite.

This is what I did...

Clean Eating with MuscleFood's Live Clean Meals

You may have read that I am currently on a weight loss journey with Slimming World. But this time I am not seeing it as a diet, it is a lifestyle change that is for good. Starting my journey has made me evaluate what I eat, how I prepare food and ensuring that my meals are full of goodness. As much as I love to cook all of our meals from scratch sometimes life takes over and all I want is a healthy meal that is already prepared for me. This leads me to the next problem, finding a ready meal that is nutritious and wholesome. This is where MuscleFood's Live Clean meals come in!

If you have not heard of MuscleFood before let me tell you a little about them.

MuscleFood is an online food and nutrition supplier. They specialise in foods that are not only a high quality but also contain the necessary nutrients and proteins that you need whether you are a keen sports and fitness person or if you, like me, want to eat as healthily as possible with the aim to get to a healthy weight and maintain it. All of their meats are of the highest quality and all carry quality stamps such as the red tractor, RSPCA assured, free range, Organic Association to name but a few. So you know that you are getting exactly what you want. MuscleFood is tried and trusted by professional athletes, they are suppliers to some of the top British restaurants and deliver straight to your door without adding any water or salt to their products. Their meat has never been frozen and is even classically butchered on the day that it is dispatched to you.

With this ethos in mind MuscleFood have developed their new range of meals, Live Clean. The meals are nutritionally balanced, full of clean ingredients and will never contain added sugars or anything artificial! The Live Clean meals have been hand cooked by a Michelin star trained chef and are ready in minutes!

Home Improvements and a New Office

At last we have some news on the home improvements front. At the moment our outhouses are being transformed from a shed and coal house to a washing room/utility and a new larder. It is ridiculous how excited I am simply about having a larger utility and the opportunity to finally get a tumble drier. Then there is the larder! As we live in an older house storage is a huge problem so to have a room specifically for food storage will be a huge help. After my visit to River Cottage I am even hoping for some space to hang cured meat!

But something else that can now happen inside thanks to the building work is that I can finally have my own work space. The room that is now our small utility is to be my office. Having my own work space has got me thinking about how I will decorate the room, what will I furnish it with, as it will be my study I will need some work furniture. I already have some beautiful images for the wall which I think are fitting for my blog..

Fruit Layered Porridge Breakfast Bowl

Last week I joined a local Slimming World group. Recently I have been eating and drinking what I want without much thought to what it was doing to me health. This has caused my weight to naturally go up which is starting to effect my health and well being. So now my meals are all about using as many "free" foods as possible to ensure that I am full, but full of good, healthy foods. Normally I am not a breakfast person but this last week I have been looking forward to my breakfast. This has been my favourite breakfast. It does take a little effort but is so worth it and that is why I am sharing it with you today!

Oats are a deliciously filling fibre rich food that are the perfect way to start the day. Porridge oats should be classed as a super food. They are packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre but they also help reduce high blood pressure, reduce bad cholesterol, keeping blood sugar levels steady and they give you enough energy to keep you going until lunch time! The best part is that you do not need to eat a lot to gain the health benefits. This breakfast, with the oats combined with fruit, is the ideal way to start the day.

This is what I did...

 

Introducing Conscious Water

Conscious: adjective - aware of ones own existence, sensations, thoughts and surroundings.....

What is Conscious Water?

Conscious Water is an aspiration.

Conscious Water is 100% natural flower essence water enhancer. When it is added to your glass of water it creates a wonderfully refreshing drink that gives you a little aspiration to your day.

Flower essence, like other natural sources, has both medicinal and well being elements. Different flower essences can help with different moods and aspirations. Conscious Water have created with natures help six water enhances. You can choose from:

Top Tips to Help You Stick to a Healthy Diet

Guest post

Dieting is such a strong word for many of us and conjures up images of either total hunger or feeding oneself on lettuce all day long. Personally I hate the word when it is used for slimming. However, trying to eat a healthier diet is a completely different story that promotes our well-being and, of course, overall good health, with everything that comes along with that. But, as we all know, that is easier said than done. We have all thrown our healthy diet out of the window every chance we get, like during the weekends or holidays or when going out to eat with friends or when we are invited to a party, and the list goes on and on!

The good news is that there are just as many ways to stick to your healthy diet as there are to stray from it!

Here are some top tips that you might find as handy as I hope to...

My Top Tips for Eating Healthy!

Regular readers know that I love healthy eating but believe in a balanced diet. Finding that healthy balance can be hard so today I thought I would share some top tips for healthy eating!

Healthy eating is an integral part of an overall healthy lifestyle that allows us to look and feel great. To help eat well and remain healthy at all times, here are some simple guidelines that you could follow.

Photograph courtesy of Real Foods

1. Don't Skip Meals

One of the most common mistakes and certainly one that I will admit to making is skipping meals, particularly breakfast. This usually leads to cravings that can be totally out of control. By the end of the day, skipping meals to consume less calories actually urges you to overeat. The secret is to eat regularly and a variety of foods. Curb hunger by snacking between meals, always paying attention to the size of your portions, though. To stay healthy, you need over 40 different nutrients. So, eat a wide variety of foods, in moderate portions. If you manage to keep your portions reasonably sized, you will be able to enjoy everything you like without having to eliminate something. A medium piece of fruit, a handful of nuts or seeds, or 50ml of ice-cream are reasonable serving sizes.

The Many Benefits of Wild Oregano Oil Today

Oregano is a delicious herb to add to foods and one that I often use. I recently wrote a recipe using oregano as a feature herb. When I was cooking my Oregano Prawn Spaghetti I was not aware of the other health benefits that oregano has. This guest post from Nature Supplies certainly will leave you intrigued!

There are few natural remedies which have as many health benefits as Oregano Oil. It can be used for a vast array of health issues; from treating foot and nail fungus to alleviating sinus infections and colds. It is probably most recognised for its use in the culinary world, within which it is used to add flavour to meat and pasta dishes. Although it was frequently used for medicinal purposes in the Ancient Greek and Roman times, the health benefits of Oregano Oil are not necessarily well known in the 21st Century.

What is Oregano Oil?

Created from the flowers and leaves of the Oregano herb, it is a member of the mint family and now grows in many countries around the world, despite originating from parts of Europe. This bushy herb has dark green leaves which along with the accompanying flowers are dried and steam distilled to create the high strength oil. The oil has a dark golden appearance and a very distinctive taste and smell.

Slimmerseeker Thursday Week 4

January is over and that means that my Slimmerseeker journey has been going now for 1 month. This week has seen my fourth weigh in. It was not what I had hope but, not all bad!

This week my healthy, clean eating has continued. After last week, I found that I have been enjoying my meals so much more. I have cut out the majority of dairy products, I cannot cut out cheese completely, I love it too much, but have made it my treat food, I am not eating bread and have not had meat. This is not due to ethical beliefs, but just a health belief. I feel healthier eating more meat free meals but will still enjoy meat, as a treat and will only eat the best quality of meat that has been reared organically.

I will admit to not getting my exercise regime up and running again. Since having a week off I have found it hard to find the motivation to get back to doing it everyday. However I am going to my weekly keep fit class and am walking the school run a lot more. 

This week I have started to notice a few changes in how some of my clothes are fitting. Trousers are becoming looser around the waist, some tops are feeling baggier and I can do up gilet again. Last year I was suffering with my back and as my weight is reducing I am noticing less pain which means I am finally not using morphine patches for the pain and have significantly reduced the amount of pain killers that I am taking. Loosing weight certainly is having a huge effect on my body and well being. So after one month I can see that I am going in the right direction.

Before I tell you how the scales went for me this week let me tell you a bit about the posts that were shared last week...

A Visit to the X-Ray Department

Hospitals are a vital part of our community. They are not a fun place to visit if you are having a procedure done or have health problems.

This morning I had to visit our local hospital for an x-ray. Recently I have been experiencing pain in my left thumb. When I visited the doctor I was told that this could be a repetitive strain, yes I am on my phone a lot, so this will not help. Or worst case scenario I have an early onset of arthritis.

When I went in to have my x-ray I was greeted by a medical radiology student who asked for my consent to perform my x-ray. As I was stood there waiting to have my x-ray I could not help but listen in to their discussions. The qualified radiology nurse was telling the student all about the machine and this got me thinking about how, when I was at school, I had thought about a career in nursing. 

Today is also World Cancer Day.

The diagnosis and cure of so many cancers is all thanks to the technology that is radiography. We, as a family, have lost people to this devastating disease but I am also so proud and lucky to say that we have people who have had it, beat it and remain cancer free! Radiology really is amazing and certainly saves and improves our lives. As with a lot of medical positions they are always on the look out for new people to train up and fill positions. I know that part of me does wish that I had followed nursing when I was younger but naivety won and studying didn't! But I am a true believer in things happening for a reason and the paths that you choose in life make you the person that you are today.

Slimmerseeker Thursday - Week 2

This is now my third week following my Slimmerseeker plan. My regime is to follow the Slimming World eating plan, listening to my Thinking Slimmer Slimpod and exercising daily. My exercise is a combination of the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels and regular keep fit classes and walking more. My goal is to feel confident with my body when we go on holiday in August.

Before I tell you about my week I would like to say a big thank you to the people who joined in with the first week of the Slimmerseeker linky.

Pempi's Palace shared a great food planner that she uses. It is a great way to record what food you eat and the amount of water that you drink. I know that I need to use a water chart as I certainly need to increase my water intake.

Pempi's Palace - Food Plan

This led perfectly onto Lucy Locket Loves post about the 4 Week Water Challenge that is to raise money for Water Aid. For every £1 that is donated the government will match it until 10th February. Again this has made me think about my water intake and how lucky we are!

Mrs Shilts shared a delicious Butternut Squash recipe. Butternut squash is such a versatile vegetable that is perfect for soup. You can add a variety of spices and herbs and can be changed in so many different ways and flavours. But best of all it is a syn free soup! Yay!

Madhouse Family Reviews shared how after Christmas she was finding it hard to get back on track. But I am sure that everything will get back on plan. I always struggle after Christmas especially when there are treats around! I hope to see that the Slimpod has helped this week!

Now on to my week. This is how I have got on...