Bittersweet Birthday Blues

It's my birthday. A day of celebration... Right?

Why is it then that part of me feels sad? 

I've never been one of those people to lament getting older so it's not that. As many of you will know I regularly visit a lady who is 99 years old. She's become one of my good friends, and her outlook on life is something to be admired; it's made me realise that getting older is exciting and all part of a new chapter - plus she said the best part of your life is from 25-35 so I've got ages before I need to worry! 

I'm sad because I feel a sense of underachievement from the subconscious life plan I had mapped out for myself. At the age of 21 I was in the middle of what was a 7 year relationship, at university, and I was sure that by the time I reached my current age I'd be successful, rich, happy, and married with my/our own house. It seemed so clear and so simple. 

I remember when I first left university and got a real job I was somewhat cynical of the people at my level in their mid to late twenties - I was certain that by the time I was their age, armed with my degree, intelligence and ambitious nature, I'd be running the show. 

But regardless of my ambitions and intellect, I am not even close to achieving what I want out of my career.

I'm also not married, in fact I'm completely single and probably will be for a long time. My last relationship turned very nasty in the end and it's kind of destroyed my faith in men, for now at least. I think to fall in love you have to open up and be vulnerable. I'm not ready to risk being hurt - my walls are so high they'd make Hadrian's Wall look small, which I suppose is an appropriate analogy as they've got to keep out more than just the Scott's.

Im not a home owner. I'm actually househunting at the moment, and not even for a place to buy but a place to rent by myself. For those of you familiar with living in London you will know how soul destroying it can be to look at dingy mouldy studios and flats that cost more than your monthly earnings. 

I know this post seems pessimistic, but despite what it may seem my life is not all doom and gloom. I haven't written this post for your sympathy but rather to let you know that if you feel pressure or a sense of underachievement about what you've achieved at your age then you aren't alone. We live in a society in which everyone's life is enhanced through social media (and filters) so it's easy to feel like you're the only one feeling down or overwhelmed, I promise you aren't.  

I'd be lying if I said that parts of this year have not been crap, but I'm actually really happy. I see the things that have happened as a transitional phase of my life and it's taught me some valuable lessons about myself and those around me. For instance, I may have learnt who my friends aren't, but I've also learnt who they truly are. I have an amazing circle of friends and family.

I may not be a success in the naive eyes of my 21 year old self, but I'd like to adopt a cliché and say that success is a journey, not a destination. A few years ago I made a decision to quit my full time job to try and achieve my dream of being a presenter, model, and writer. I now have my own radio show, present my own TV Show on a sky channel, I've had big meetings with American and international networks, I have modelling agencies in five different countries and have been the face of several companies, and I write my own blog that is read by about 50,000 of you every month. I wake up every day (including Monday's) excited and grateful for my job. How cool is my life? 

They say you get wiser with age, so on this day I celebrate my increased wisdom please allow me to offer some life advice: 

Be selective with who you love and trust.

In my favourite Mumford & Sons track they sing "in this body you will live, in this body you will die, where you invest your love you invest your life." I couldn't phrase it better myself. Whether you are in a toxic relationship or hanging out with friends who no longer serve you, appreciate you, or make you happy do not waste your love on them. It doesn't matter how long you've known them, the people you chose to have in your life should lift you up. People change and grow at different times and sometimes your development can lead to bitterness, resentment, or jealousy. Ridding yourself of negative people will free up time for you to spend with those who make you feel good. Since walking away from my friendship group I've had the time to spend with old friends I'd lost touch with and make time for new people I've recently met. 

We are all insecure in some way. The people who love you will raise you up not bring you down. I'm a worrier so I need friends around me that reassure me, not add to my worries.

Let karma be a bitch so you don't have to be. It's my favourite motto but it's true. People will hurt you, use you, betray you, and worse - sometimes for no apparent reason at all. Don't waste your energy retaliating - it will drain you and give them ammo to use against you. I truly believe that what goes around comes around, and you get out of life what you put into it. Amazing life coach and my friend Camilla Dallerup taught me that you cannot teach people empathy; some people just won't see your side and will make false presumptions about you. It's a reflection on them more than you.

Be less judgemental. It doesn't matter how old someone is, if they're in the same position as you at work it doesn't make you better or smarter than them. They might have a wealth of experience and skills in a different industry and have had to make a very brave decision to change jobs, or they may have had to overcome more obstacles in life to get to where you are. 

Remember that life is a journey not a destination. Enjoy the ride. Have a plan but don't worry if things take longer than you expected or life throws curveballs at you - life would be boring if it was easy. As Baz Lurhmann said "sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind, but in the end it's only with yourself." 

And finally when life throws you lemons, make lemonade. After the last few months I've been thrown enough lemons that I have enough to make a giant punch so I'm putting vodka in it and celebrating with my real friends tonight. I wish my family could be there too but they live up north. 

Happy bittersweet birthday to me.

Until next time... X

OOTD | Moroccan Motivation

I always take my running kit with me abroad because if I pack it I feel too guilty to not use it, at least if only a couple of times. I absolutely love this new print sportswear from Lipsy, especially with the subtle addition of orange - perfect for summer.   I was a big fan of the last collection too, you can see one of my previous fitness OOTD posts here. 

Admittedly I never went running in Marrakech, but I did do lots of sit ups from the comfort of the Riad. 

OOTD: 

Hoodie: Lipsy Sport

Top: Lipsy Sport

Sports bra: Freya 

Leggings: Lipsy Sport

Trainers: Reebok

Let me know what you think of this outfit.

Until next time... x

Pulp from Juicer | Crumble Recipe Idea

I use my Sage  Nutri-Juicer on a daily basis, but the one thing that I feel guilty about is throwing away the pulp left in it. I've tried lots of different things to try find a use to it and the best solution I have come up with is this healthy sugar-free crumble (I suppose you could add sugar if you didn't want to be healthy). 

Fruit

Now I don't profess to be a great cook, so please use your own existing fruit recipe for the crumble, but I peeled pears and apples before boiling them until they were soft then put them in a baking dish. In hindsight I would probably add cinnamon and cardamon to give it a little more flavour. 

Pulp

I used the leftover pulp of a carrot to create the top part of the crumble mixing it with flaxseed, almonds and coconut flakes using my NutriBullet before putting it on top of the fruit. 

I put it in the oven for about 30 minutes when the base was nice and hard.

And voila! My healthy crumble. 

You can get all the products and ingredients here (it's cheaper to get a lot of health foods in amazon as opposed to in the supermarkets FYI).

For milling and blending: Nutribullet

For juicing: The Nutri-juicer plus, Sage by Heston Blumenthal

Flaxseed

Coconut flakes

Almonds

Let me know if you try it! 

Until next time... x

Motivational Mondays | S'No Queen Ski wear

I'm not really into skiing, but I recently came across S'No Queen who take essential clothing - thermal wear - and make it sexy. I know we are creeping into Spring, but it's still slightly chilly, plus you might still be hitting the slopes this year, so I'd recommend checking them out. 

S'No Queen pride themselves on making practical clothing beautiful and feminine and their range varies from bright colours, to diamonte, to subtle patterns. The greatest thing about this brand is the quality of the clothing - it's so soft and comfortable, and in their own words is made from the silkiest of silks and stretchiest of poly/viscose mixes. 

Whether you're hitting the slopes, off cycling, or just wanting some thermal layering in your wardrobe, I do recommend checking out this brand. 

Outfit:

Top: S'No Queen diamonds & peal 

Leggings: S'No Queen diamonds & pearl

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban aviators

Boots: Caterpillar Anna Kick

Bracelet: Tresor Paris

What do you think of my outfit? 

If you're looking for more fitness and activewear clothing check out my previous posts here. 

Until next time... x

Motivational Monday | The Green Goddess Life & my food journey

I've been meaning to write this blog post for a while but I honestly have no idea where to begin, so I will adopt the cliche and start at the very beginning of my healthy food journey. 

18 MONTHS AGO

I was doing very little exercise and due to my hectic lifestyle I was eating ready meals and sandwiches, and not regularly either; it would get to midday and I'd realised I hadn't eaten, so I'd binge eat. I had a voice in my head that kept telling me to do something about it, continuously promising that I'd start being healthier tomorrow. The problem with tomorrow is that it always remains in the future. 

I'd like to point out that I was never fat, I know that, I just had unhealthy habits.

NEW YEAR NEW ME 

In January 2014, breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! asked me if I would like to run the Bath Half marathon with them and so my healthy journey began. I joined the gym, went on a five day juice diet, and started running with the help of my Nike Running app, which appeals to my overly competitive nature. You can read more about that and other running tips here. The problem is, I didn't have time or the knowledge to eat clean consistently, I just did lots and lots of juice diets, and invested in a Nutribullet so I could create healthy juices for myself, usually for breakfast.

GREEN BEGINNINGS  

A few months later, in May 2014, I contacted the Green Goddess Life to sign up to her 6 month Green Goddess program. This is a personalised program where Mel, the beautiful face behind the Green Goddess, puts together a tailored program based on your own current nutritional issues and goals. 

At the end of our initial phone call my main goals and struggles were written down by Mel as follows: 

• Diet is usually fairly good, chaotic at the moment as has been moving house

• Bad habits are to eat chocolate and then skip a meal.

• On a good day will use nutribullet and make smoothie

• Lunch isn’t great as usually out and about so a sandwich or similar

• Dinner – fish and veg or chicken. Quite simple meals

• Chocolate is the guilty pleasure and the main culprit!

• Wouldn’t miss meat

• Exercise – half marathon coming up 2nd March so running on average 2 miles a morning – but would like to up this

• Needs to cut chocolate addiction!!!

Mel then put together a HUGE personalised plan for me, which was tailored to me according to my goals and areas of focus. 

CONCERNS 

I must confess, I was originally overwhelmed by Mel's program - there were so many foods I hadn't heard of, plus I really didn't have time to prepare so many recipes every day. I'd say my biggest concern was the how much all the healthy food would cost me. 

And actually it was hard to begin with - hard to stick to and hard to follow. My biggest addiction was chocolate. Mel would call me for her fortnightly call and I had to confess that I had failed to kick my chocolates addiction and I hadn't cooked as many meals as I had hoped. Mel was always supportive and told me not to consider myself on a diet, and told me to always forgive myself if I slipped up. At the time I worried I was letting her down by not sticking to her plan rigorously, however now I realise that it was part of my process - I was taking small baby steps.

Mel gave me over 100 recipe ideas and I also subscribe to her free weekly newsletter that has other recipes and tips on, and I started to make big batches of food when I found some time then I'd eat it over the course of a few days meaning I never felt like I was a slave to the kitchen.

THE END BUT NOT THE FINISH

Fast forward almost ten months and I can honestly say Mel has transformed my life. I don't know how I made the transformation because it was very gradual, but I don't eat sugar anymore, nevermind chocolate. I don't restrict my body from eating anything so I don't feel like I'm on a diet, my tastebuds have just changed and I don't crave processed sweet foods. There are so many delicious and healthy foods out there I didn't even know existed. I eat natural foods and am more creative with what I make. 

I'm still busy, and still don't make enough time to cook the delicious recipes I'd like to, but I have more discipline and I'll find a healthy alternative to a sandwich - couscous, quinoa, or soup. Instead of chocolate I make a delicious chocolate mousse using cacao and avocado in a Nurtibullet (I'll share the recipe soon) - it's one of Josie Gibson's recipes from her Slimmables website. 

Mel has helped me to overcome many of my eating fears and worries along the way. For example, I developed a worry about eating beige food - bread, pasta, etc. Because of it's colour I associated quinoa with being a heavy carb so would struggle to eat it without feeling it'd bulk me up - Mel patiently explained the nutritional value and contents of quinoa so I now understand it has a very high level of protein and fibre. 

If I drink over the weekend or eat too much of something I shouldn't, I forgive myself. It's not about fad diets and binge eating, it's about eating what makes you happy, and after a long journey of discovery, what makes my body happy is what my head craves, finally.

And the meals are now easy - I don't have to stick to rigorous recipes like I had to at the beginning. I understand the food and have a better understanding of how the flavours will work. It means that it's not as overwhelming as it was when I started my journey.

And you know, I eat out less because I'd prefer to eat a delicious homemade meal for lunch that I've prepared in bulk at the start of the week than eat an unsatisfactory and expensive convenience lunch. It actually means I save money in the long run! 

Mel has been so supportive and positive thorough out the process and I know that we'll be keeping in touch long after my program ends. She genuinely cares for her clients, and I would go as far to say she's become my friend. 

My body has slowly transformed too. I'm much more toned, but also my skin is more radiant. It means that I've had much more work as a model. Woo! But most importantly I feel much healthier and have more energy than I ever did.

The biggest tools that have helped me have been the following:

• Sage by Heston Blumenthal Nutri-Juicer Plus

This juicer is my number one kitchen must have. I genuinely miss it when I have to be away from home for a few days. I love making juices, either in the morning or as a booster throughout the day. I'll share a few of my favourite juice combinations with you soon.

• Nutribullet 

I still love making smoothies with my Nutribullet, but I actually use it more for creating sauces and healthy desserts now. 

Creating the base of my healthy crumble - recipe coming next week

If you guys feel you're stuck in a rut then I can't recommend speaking to Mel enough. Check out her website here and make sure you sign up to her free newsletter as she offers free recipes, advice, and motivational stories.

Until next time... x  

Monday Motivation | The Bath Half Marathon & Running tips

Yesterday I ran the Bath Half Marathon in order the raise money and awareness for breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! alongside a strong team of other Boobettes and Radio 1's Greg James. You can still donate here if you fancy it and can afford it, and if you can't then just check your boobs! 

I completed the run in 1 hour 41 minutes, beating last year's finishing time by 15 minutes. I also broke a few records along the way. I honestly don't know how I managed it as I haven't been able to run much for the last fortnight due to a hip injury and I twisted my knee on the 8th mile (I can't wait today). I can't tell you the feeling of pride and satisfaction I felt when I crossed the finishing line. It makes me want to sign up for more runs and challenges! 

Hopefully this post might help to inspire you to start running or to sign up to a 10k or half marathon (or even a marathon if you're brave!) - regardless of your running ability.

I started running again in January 2014 to train for last year's Bath Half. When I first began I really struggled to run more than 1 mile at a time, fast forward 15 months and I feel like a completely different person. I thought I would share my tips so if you are scared or feel overwhelmed to begin it might help you.

Nike Running app

I honestly would not be able to run without this app. Maybe it appeals to the competitive nature in me, but I get such a big sense of achievement through this app. It tracks your route, tells you how far you've run including your average pace per mile, and shows how many calories you've burnt. You can also add your friends and set each other challenges, or just see how far they've run per week. When I was running the half marathon yesterday the app would tell me when I had ran each mile and tell me my average pace - I kept myself motivated because I wanted to beat last year's time of 1 hour 54 minutes. 

Also a big tip is don't worry about the distance. I run for 15 minutes every single morning - it means those days that I can't be bothered I think to myself that in 15 minutes I'll be home with a sense of satisfaction. Even if you run for 10 minutes that's a mile, and it means you don't have to set your alarm too early either!

Good running music

I cannot run without music, I need the beat to keep me going and to help pace me. If you have Spotify there's loads of good workout playlists on there depending on what your preference it. I downloaded this album on iTunes - all the cheesy hits with a beat! 

Nice sportswear

They say you have to look the part to feel the part. There's so much nice sportswear these days there really is something for everyone - check out my previous Monday motivation posts for outfit ideas. I am currently loving these crop top and leggings from South Beach Swim, and I use my Reebok trainers for both the gym and running.

Good Diet

Since working on my diet over the last nine months with nutritionalist Mel of the Green Goddess Life my whole world has changed. I have much more energy, and find I am much more fit - running is much much easier as a result. I'm going to do a separate blog post all about it very soon but in the meantime check out her website here for more info and free recipes!

I'd also recommend getting a NutriBullet and a Sage by Heston Blumenthal Nutri-Juicer as it helps to improve your fruit and veg intake - I couldn't live without either of mine!

A varied exercise regime

Lots of people want to get fit, and so start a full on fitness routine that is probably unsustainable or monotonous increasing the chances of you falling off the band wagon. I must admit I use to fall into this pattern a lot - I'd go through months of running every day then I would fall out of the routine and wouldn't do it for age. 

I've been working closely with Josie Gibson, who has a best-selling fitness DVD and weight-loss website Slimmables. Josie has taught me lots of different exercises and routines to keep me fit and in shape (they are on her site and DVD) - I no longer just go to the gym and run on a treadmill! 

I also signed up to the Nuffield gym, which has loads amazing classes on such as Spinning and Body Pump, so there's always something different to improve your fitness. I love the swimming pool there too, not to mention the steam room and sauna! 

I hope this blog post has been helpful and has encouraged you to dust off your running shoes. 

Until next time... x

OOTD | Motivation Monday

Because why shouldn't you look good whilst working out? Plus, the more you work out this week the better you'll look on Valentine's Day!

OOTD | Motivated Monday

It's Monday again - wash away the weekend with a new workout outfit. 

Crop Top: Lipsy Sport

Leggings: Lipsy Sport

Long sleeved top: Reekbok

Trainers: Reebok

Lipsy Sport full collection available here. 

Until next time... x

OOTD | Motivational Mondays

This week's Monday Motivation comes in the form of Freya Active. If you are looking for the best sports bra in the business I cannot recommend this one enough - I've lived in it since it's release last year. The capri sports pants are expertly designed for the active lady. They contain Polygiene with anti-odour properties and a micro fibre fabric for increased drying speed. They also have a pocket on the back so you can keep your possessions in there if you're going running.  

The bra is the result of ground-breaking research. Without getting too technical, the Freya Active project is world leading and is the very first to study the 3 aspects - movement, strain and pain at multiple locations of the breast (applying up to 19 markers on the breast). If that doesn't convince you, here are their benefits in their own words:

STRAIN
The Freya Active sports bra reduces strain to just 3% in the inner region of the breast, compared to 28% in an everyday bra.
The Freya Active sports bra reduces strain at the nipple to 1%, reducing potentially damaging levels of strain at the centre of the breast
PAIN
The Freya Active sports bra reduces pain by 97%, while an everyday bra reduces pain by only 58%
MOVEMENT
Testing found the Freya Active sports bra reduces independent breast movement. 92% of participants in testing felt no independent breast movement wearing the bra.
It was more effective at reducing forwards and backwards movement in the upper section of the breast than other sports bra styles in the study.

Sports Bra: Freya Active

Leggings: Freya Active

Trainers: Reebok

Arm Band: Freya

Until next time... x

OOTD | Monday Motivation!

I'm sure you've heard enough about getting fit - it's synonymous with the month of January. If you were struggling for motivation then check out this gorgeous gym kit from Lipsy - I'm obsessed. 

Black Top: Reebok

Crop Top: Lipsy

Shorts: Lipsy

Trainers: Reebok

Belly Bar: Claire's

Photography by Gemma Carey

Until next time... x

Kim Kardashian West naked

My blog has been rather Kardashian-heavy lately, but I just can't stop thinking about the images that Broke the Internet. 

It's been talked about so much that I'm sorry to drag up the topic again. It's not so much the images that bother me, rather the reaction to them. 

Feminists around the world have been outraged, calling it a step backwards for women and slamming Kim for being naked... yet again.

But, I just don't agree at all. I think this is a wonderful feminist-forward move by Kim.

Would I do it? Probably not. Mainly because I'm not brave enough - I wouldn't even like my friends to see my lala, nevermind the whole world!

So why has she offended feminists? The images aren't smutty or sexual. No one has forced her to do it. Yes she is naked, but does being feminist mean we must hide our bodies in shame? I wonder if this is a feminist issue or a jealousy one? Girls are always very quick to criticise girls.

I think the image is powerful and iconic. Kim and her fellow Kardashians have confidently caused curves to be cool. (Sorry, I couldn't resist the alliteration.)

I think these images show how far she's come - last time we saw her naked body was when her privacy was exploited - on a sex tape or through leaked iCloud images - and here she is, showing it off on her terms, confidently and with a smile on her face.

Yes she's done a sex tape and she's come a long way since that - but I don't see Ray J getting labelled a slut and accused of only being good for getting naked. 

Now let's get onto the next issue that has caused so much offence. Kanye West was present, so why didn't he get his genitals out? 

Kim Kardashian turns up to Kanye's gigs to support him all the time, yet she doesn't rap on stage. Why is this any different? He has his thing, she has hers.

There's a lot of things about Kanye I disagree with but on this occasion I'd like to praise Kanye West, and I'll tell you why...

Kanye West is arguably one of the most talented and successful men in the world. Many successful and wealthy men attract beautiful women, and expect these beautiful women to nod and smile and behave as they are expected. I believe they're known as trophy wives.

When Kanye started dating Kim it was heavily frowned upon. He was a cool credible rap star, she a reality star. Yet he didn't care because he loved her regardless And it seems, to the outside at least, that their love is impenetrable. Kim has only grown, and Kanye has supported her, stood to the side of her and allowed her to do her thing, whatever that may be.

If I suddenly decided I wanted to celebrate my body and do a full frontal nude shot that would be seen all over the world, I doubt my boyfriend would be cool with that. Or at least be so cool with it he'd turn up and stand alongside me to support me whilst I did the photoshoot. (Disclaimer: I asked my boyfriend, and he claims he wouldn't mind if it was something I wanted to do and for the right reasons, but you get the point I'm making). 

Kanye has gone way up in my estimation. We might not agree with Kim's choice, but it was her choice.

So yes Kim Kardashian got naked. She got her famous ass out for us all to stare at in all its glory. Not because she needs the fame, or the money, not to sexualise herself for men. But because she wants to. Because she loves her body. So please can we stop taking a masculine approach and presuming the motive is sexual. Just because we don't agree with her decision it doesn't make it wrong. So well done Kim Kardashian - queen of reality television, business woman, mum, and wife. 

It's good you popped open the champagne, cause we should be celebrating!

Until next time... X

Halloween Recipe | Pumpkin & Peanut Curry

I've really got into the Halloween spirit early this year, having already gone to Shocktober Fest. I've also been doing some experimenting in the kitchen and created the most incredible Halloween curry. What's more is it's tasty, filling, and vegan so everyone can enjoy it (unless you have a nut allergy)!

I'm not going to pretend I invented the recipe myself, I actually came across it online so credit goes to the Delicious Magazine.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
• 1 tsp tomato purée
• Zest and juice of 1 lime
• 1 tbsp soy sauce 
• 1 tsp sugar
• Small handful fresh coriander, with roots (if possible)
• 2 red chillies, halved and deseeded
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1cm piece fresh ginger
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 red onions, cut into thin wedges
• A pumpkin and / or butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and roughly diced
• 400ml can coconut milk

Method

• Cook brown rice, as this takes longer to cook than white rice.
• Stir the peanut butter into a jug containing 200ml hot water, until it dissolves.
• Then stir in the purée, lime zest and juice, soy sauce and sugar and set aside.
• Remove the leaves from the coriander and set aside. Chop the stalks and roots as finely as you can, along with the chilli, garlic and ginger.
• Heat the oil in a wok or good-sized pan and fry the onions quite briskly for a few minutes, so that they catch slightly.
• Add the pumpkin and stir-fry for a few minutes.
• Stir in the chilli mixture for 1 minute, then stir in the coconut milk.
• Add the peanut butter mix.
• Cook at a brisk simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the pumpkin is tender.

And hey presto! This is one of my favourite things I've cooked and I love eating seasonal food. 

Let me know if you end up making this recipe :) 

Until next time... Trick or treat! x

3 Day Detox | Juci Wellbeing

I have just finished a 3 day juice detox using Juci Wellbeing. It was recommended to me by my food and health coach Mel of the Green Goddess Life because I was feeling very run down and needed a health boost. 

The Juci detox provides 4 large sized bottles per day, which are all posted to you at the beginning of your detox - I was so happy when I saw the size of the bottles because other companies can send quite small juices and so you can be left feeling hungry. They also included Pysllium Husk, which is a fibre supplement to help you ... umm... ya know. ;)  I didn't use it, but it's nice to know the option is there should you need it. 

Each juice contains different ingredients and is good for different things:

Juice 1 - High Potassium enzyme booster high in Vitamin A, B's, C, K, and magnesium. 

Juice 2 - Ginger based drink  packed with phytonutrients and antioxidants which protect our cells and stimulate liver functioning. 

Juice 3 - A instant energy lift, packed with nutrients to support healthy blood and circulation, encouraging toxin removal away from the cells. 

Juice 4 - Same as Juice 1, it's a high Potassium enzyme booster high in Vitamin A, B's, C, K, and magnesium. 

Here's how I got on day by day:

Day 1:

The day started off well - I was presenting all day and was surprisingly full in between juices, and I resisted coffee by drinking peppermint tea. That night I popped to an event to support my friend Ollie Locke, and really annoyingly left my 6pm juice in the fridge. There was champagne and canapés at the event, which are usually my weakness, but I managed to resist. I was very proud of myself but by the time I got home I was too tired to drink my juice. Oops! But I saw it as a victory because of my willpower. I have to thank Mel for motivating me!

Day 2:

 I woke up with a flat stomach, which was very exciting, although not my objective. I was expecting to feel slightly nauseous or headachy because of the toxins leaving my body, but I felt fine. The day went smoothly and without any cravings as the juices were surprisingly tasty and it was nice to not have to clean my juicer for a change! My already noticed my skin and hair beginning to glow. I went herbal tea shopping so I had a nice supply of non-caffinated drinks to help me through the detox.

Day 3:

Again, I woke up with a flat stomach and looking forward to my morning juice but I have to admit I really missed being able to eat food. My boyfriend and I went out for breakfast and it was quite depressing not being able to eat something, even something healthy. That said, my hair and skin were glowing and I had lots of energy! I finished the last juice with mixed emotions. My sister was round so I gave her the other juice from the first day I missed and she found it really tasty!

The day after (today):

I woke up feeling incredible, and loved that my hair and skin were glowing. As I said, I felt really dull and run down at the beginning of the detox, and I've taken some make-up free photos so you can see my skin now. I suppose it's hard to know what my skin looked like before.

I didn't do the cleanse to lose weight, although my body does feel a little more toned. That is to be expected doing a juice diet though, and the main thing is to maintain a healthy diet afterwards. 

You can shop the lingerie I am wearing here:

The juice diet has helped me to have some self-control and willpower with eating. I'm really bad at snacking, usually on chocolate, and eating whenever I feel hungry or skipping meals when busy. I am about to embark on a 6 week eating plan with Mel and I have some important lingerie jobs coming up, so it's nice to have the motivation.

Mel is the face of Juci Wellbeing and also did the detox (although a day ahead of me), and you can read about her journey here. She also has a promo code so if you do fancy a detox, then you can get a nice offer on it.

I'd definitely recommend this detox, and if you have any questions for me please leave them in the comments below.

Until next time... x

Run to the Beat | 10k run

On Sunday morning, I headed over to Wembley Park to take part in Run to the Beat for Fitness First.   

I met up with my friends and fellow runners AJ Odudu and Pips Taylor (and her lovely boyfriend) there, and we got into our kit and headed down to the start line to take some photos. 

After the press pictures Fitness First ran an amazing warm up - it was like being in their body pump class with amazing music and upbeat exercises. It got everyone energised and ready for the run.

I set my Nike Running App and we set off in the second wave. AJ was off like a speed of lightening and I ended up running a lot of it alone, wishing I had my running partner Kye Sones for motivation (see my post from the Bath Half). There were DJ sets along the way from Nick Grimshaw, Sigma, and the Wanted's 

I have to admit that I didn't train for this run, mainly due to having a puppy, and I really felt the difference. I walked up a lot of the hills, but that said I did finish the race in 54 minutes and 30 seconds, which I was happy with. I also ran my fastest 5k - woohoo. It must have been the music, and knowing my puppy was waiting for me at the finish line! 

Afterwards we had some delicious food and did some more photos and interviews, before Matt and I headed to Muswell Hill for a roast.

Have you guys run a 10k before? What's your PB?

Here's links to my outfit, if you're looking for a sports bra I would definitely recommend this one.

If you guys are training for a long run then make sure you check out my previous post featuring advice from personal trainer Laura Sheriff. 

Until next time... x

Girl on girl action

Read all about it! Read all about it! Mariah Carey did a shoot with Terry Richardson, and GUESS WHAT? Her photos were photoshopped. But why on earth would anyone feel the need to photoshop one of the most talented singers in history? Surely it doesn’t matter what she looks like. Right?

Of course we can expect some rude comments from some of the men out there, but us girls understand each other because we all face the same pressures, and suffer the same complexities and insecurities. We’re in it together, right? Right? Hello? Girls? Are you still there? 

Tell me Kate from London, do you put up unflattering photos of yourself on social media? Or do you pick the ones that make you look your best? And Suze UK, it’s nice of you to take the time out of your toned and perfect life to let us all know what you think of Mariah's image.  

Seriously, why should Mariah need to feel insecure about the way she looks with comments like that? A 44 year old mother of 2, and larger than she was in her twenties when she was recognised as one of the most beautiful women in the world. I wonder WHY she feels compelled to make herself look good?

But maybe these girls have a point because she DOES look better in the photo that’s been photoshopped. And yeah, she could spend her money on a personal trainer, as some of the comments suggested. She should be comfortable in her own skin and not feel the need to be photoshopped, as we all come in different shapes and sizes and curvier women should be proud of their assets. That’s what we’d really like to see. I mean just look at Kelly Brook! Instead of altering her image she’s been spotted at the gym LOADS recently working hard to stay in shape. Men would bend over backwards to have a girl like her on their arms, and us girls, well we wish we had her figure! Don’t we?

Oh but look… here’s a nice one:

She may look good but she is obviously dumb. OBVIOUSLY. Because holding her own on live television, as well as being an actress, pin up model (still), and having her own successful clothing range forces us to question her intelligence. I wonder how she will feel after reading these comments?  Maybe from now on she’ll just get the photos photoshopped to stop all the nasty comments? Oh wait…!

I recently got photographed on the beach and it ended up featuring in the press weeks later, without my knowledge. “Don’t read the comments”, my boyfriend said. “Have you seen what people have been saying about you?”, my mum rang to say.

The most worrying thing about these comments is that I’m a UK size 8. I’m in my 20s, and my boobs are real. I eat healthily, and I try to go to the gym as much as I can, but I have a busy lifestyle, and I love food. I struggle with the area on my hips and thighs - I’ve been told in the past that I need to tone it up for work. I always hated my boobs - they’ve always attracted unwanted attention and prevented me from wearing beautiful lingerie and bikinis that you see on the high street, but I’m learning to accept my body. That doesn’t mean those comments don’t sting. Like anyone, there are days when I feel gross. There are parts of me I wish I could be taller, thinner, or less flabby. We all do, no matter what shape or size we are. 

Let me ask you this, if you were to do a photoshoot and there was an option to get rid of the lumps and bumps that make you feel insecure, would you? 

If you were walking along the beach in your bikini and girls kept approaching you to tell you you looked fat, needed a boob lift, or clearly needed to spend more time at the gym, how would you feel? What would you think of those girls? 

So why is it ok when it’s written down? And what makes Mariah Carey or Kelly Brook any different to the rest of us? A lot of people say they’ve signed up to it by choosing the career they have and by being in the public eye. Does that mean a waitress deserves to be spoken to rudely by customers?!

I’d like to state that both are beautiful women, and clearly very intelligent to have succeeded in their respective industry for so many years. Women come in all shapes in sizes - some of us will wish we looked like Kelly Brook, and others will wish we looked like Kendall Jenner. But do we need to be nasty about each other? Are we that perfect that we have the right to criticize another woman? And what do we achieve if we do? Will it make us feel better about ourselves?

We can’t all be ‘perfect’. We can’t all be the image of beauty that is shown to us in fashion and beauty magazines. We can’t all be like Kendall Jenner… Although it seems it wouldn’t be any easier if we were:

We can’t all look the same, or have the same ideal of what makes the perfect woman. But what we can all be is nice. Kind and supportive of each other. What happened to girl power? 

Have you ever thought that maybe these beautiful women post so many professional or altered photographs of themselves because they are trying to prove their beauty, or want to be made to feel good about themselves? Perhaps they are crippingly insecure largely due to the amount of abuse they receive from other women on social media and in the press. Is it any surprise that photoshopping takes place? And are you sure you wouldn’t do the same?

So let's all praise Colbie Caillat for bearing it all in her new video, and take inspiration from it.

Recently I was told about a little girl at school who was being bullied. She said to her teachers:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will break my heart”

Do you disagree with her? So whether you describe yourself as fat, skinny, curvy, flat, or busty… let’s just remember that it’s nice to be nice. And as my Dad says, “if in doubt, say nowt.”

Until next time... x

Summer quinoa recipe

I don't know about you guys, but there's lots of posh and fancy food out there I'm only just learning about:  spirulina, kale, quinoa. I grew up on a good northern diet do I don't know if these foods didn't exist back then, or I've just become ever so middle class since moving to London. Plus, I pronounced it phonetically, "quin-oh-a", until I was told rather disapprovingly it's actually "keen-wah". Obv.

Anyway, I recently started a healthy eating plan with the Green Goddess life, and although she gave me over 100 recipe ideas, I decided to make my own quinoa concoction out of my favourite foods (I shouldn't really eat dairy, but the cheese isn't essential - or use goats cheese instead of mozzarella!)

If like me you've bought some quinoa but still haven't figured out what on earth to eat it with...  Then here's my made up Tricolore pesto salad. The best thing is you can make it in 20 minutes. That's 20 minutes real time not Jamie Oliver time.

The Quinoa

First thing's first, cook the quinoa. I go on the measurements of two handfuls per person for an average portion amount. Put it in a saucepan and fill it with water - I always use boiling water - and cook it for about 15 minutes. The quinoa absorbs a lot of water so keep an eye on it. I add some salt to the water - instead of normal salt, I use a herb infused one that I got in Whole Foods. It tastes nicer and is healthier.  

Whilst that's cooking, it's time to prepare the rest...

The Pesto

You can obviously buy pesto in the supermarket. La Sacla do it in a jar, or you can get the more expensive and more delicious fresh pesto. I decided to make it myself, something I've come quite accustomed to doing since having a nutribullet in my life. It's quicker easier than a pestle & mortar!   

Parmesan, basil, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil. I'm not big on measurements as I just go with what seems right but I'd say, a big handful of basil, mixed with a few chunks if Parmesan (I used 1/4 of the packet), a generous sprinkle of pine nuts and a glug of olive oil. 

Whizz it up in the nutribullet until everything is in bits.

The Tricolore

Next take the mozzarella, drain it and cut it into chunks. Half the tomatoes - any small variation of tomato is fine. Cut the avocado into pieces and take a good amount of spinach. 

A good tip on cutting avocado: cut lengthways. Remove the stone by hitting a knife against it and twisting it out. Cut lengthways and sideways stopping at the skin. Get a spoon and remove it from the skin and voila it's all cut into pieces!

After your preparation, your quinoa should be ready. Drain away any excess water, but it back in the pan then add in the pesto. 

Stir it well, then put in the tomatoes, spinach, avocado, and mozzarella before stirring it. I leave it in the pan for a minute so the mozzarella melts a little, but you don't have to. It would be equally as lovely cold. 

Season with extra olive oil, if it needs, and salt and pepper. I also like to add dried chilli flakes, because I eat everything with chilli. It's also good for increasing your metabolism! 

And there you have it! A healthy but filling quinoa recipe. I'm too greedy to worry about presentation, but you could always garnish with some pine nuts and basil leaves if you wanted to impress :) 

Let me know if you try this recipe - or can recommend ways for me to improve it :) 

Until next time fellow fancy quinoa eaters... X

Healthy eating & exercise! | Revisiting New Years Resolutions

We're six months into 2014 - how as time gone so quickly? Whenever we get halfway through the year, I tend to reflect on my New Year's Resolutions.. 

My New Years resolutions were very simple, and I imagine very similar to yours: exercise more, eat better, stop eating so much chocolate, start drinking more water. I joined a gym, signed up to a half Marathon, kitted myself out with some running gear and bought a nutribullet. 

When June arrived I realised that I was drinking too often (and not H20), eating chocolate everyday, skipping meals or eating unhealthily due to a busy schedule, and doing no exercise - I didn't go to the gym; I find them a little intimidating and don't know what to do, plus I prefer running outdoors. My gym was exactly one mile from my house, I would run there, and like Forrest Gump, I'd keep on running, and do a 6 mike run avoiding the gym (the gym got used twice). This lifestyle knocked my confidence when going to modelling castings, and made me feel just generally unhappy. 

I got fed up of telling myself "I'll start exercising tomorrow", and "I'll give up chocolate tomorrow", so I decided to make some changes.

Food.

What you need to understand about me is that food is my number one passion in life. I don't do diets - the more i diet, the more I think about food, the more I eat. They don't work.

I decided to enlist the help of the Green Goddess Life, a company set up by Mel Wells, who you can find out more about here. After a half hour consultation to understand my goals (healthier diet, kick chocolate addiction, do more exercise, get more toned), Mel sent me a very comprehensive 6 month eating plan. 

Mel made me understand what my goals would be and gave me realistic targets and alternatives, such as if you're going to eat chocolate then eat dark organic chocolate (Although she assured me I wouldn't be eating it after a couple of months). She gave me suggestive menus and an additional 80 recipes.

My worries:

• I wouldn't have the willpower to stick to it
• I wouldn't have time to prepare meals
• I wouldn't be able to give up chocolate.
• I wouldn't be able to give up having a social bottle of wine. 
• I wouldn't be able to find or afford the healthy foods.

Two weeks in:

• Cooking has been fun, and I have more control over the types of food I've been eating.
• I've been organised with making meals and it doesn't seem like a chore
• Miraculously, I haven't eaten chocolate for the last week. I stopped thinking about it and just realised when writing this post. Mel told me it's when you have certain foods in your diet your body stops craving the sugar. 
• I didn't 'find time' to exercise until the last couple of days.
• I still drink socially - I do feel more consciously guilty about it though. 

I speak to Mel every two weeks to let her know about my process. When I told her my struggles she wasn't judgemental or critical, and instead focused on how much I had achieved and reassured me it was normal to be still 'slipping up'

I'm going to do a separate post about it, but I couldn't have lived without my nutribullet. I've just bought a juicer too. 

Exercise.

I recently signed up to Fitness First. I worried the same would happen, but my friend AJ Odudu is also a member and we've planned to go to some classes together! I recently went to BodyPump and although I still hurt 5 days later I think I've conquered my gym fear.

Running.

I've also got the running bug again. In my 6 month plan for the Green Goddess life, Mel explains the importance of exercise. I forced a few friends to download the nike running app so we can see how many miles each other have run - it appeals to my competitive nature. I have also built it into my daily routine where I wake up and run two miles - it's only 16 minutes out of my day and then I can do anything. 

I'm still trying to be more consistent with exercise and my water intake, and I need to work harder to avoid casually drinking, but I feel so much happier. I suppose it's true that with health comes happiness. Plus my skin, hair, and nails feel and look better too. 

I hope you've found this post interesting, and I've inspired you to revisit your resolutions. Let me know as I love hearing from you :) 

Until next time... X

Getting fit with Victoria Pendleton | Fitness First's Get Fit Get Home Campaign

I don't know about you guys, but I always want to do a lot more exercise than I actually do. I'm also the queen of excuses - I'll run tonight instead... I would run but I've just washed my hair... I'm too tired, I'll run in the morning... I would love to run home from work but I've got too many bags on me. These are just some of the excuses I tell myself on a daily basis.

Well Fitness First are making the latter an impossible excuse with their Get Fit Get Home program, and yesterday I ran 7.5km through London with a big group of people including presenter AJ Odudu and the one and only Victoria Pendleton (I know, what was I thinking?) in order to kickstart the program. Here's how I got on...

I've never been into running with a group of people and usually have my running playlist on, but it was surprisingly enjoyable and I chatted (through panted breath) to loads of different people, and the distraction made the run much more enjoyable. We ran through the park and Camden, so it was a nice way to see London. It's also much cheaper than public transport! I used my Nike Running App too and passed the 100 mile mark on the app - wahoooo! 

My Outfit:

Top: Reebok Top - The one I'm wearing is sold out, but this one is similar 

Necklace: My necklace is a new collaboration between Wolf and Moon and CoppaFeel! - the most amazing breast cancer awareness charity. 50% of profits go to CoppaFeel! 

Leggings: Bjorn Borg Mystical Flower Leggings

Trainers: Reebok ZQuick Running Shoes

Sports Bra: Freya Active - I have talked about this bra in a previous post but it's genuinely the best sports bra on the market.

AJ is also wearing Bjorn Borg leggings. They have so many nice ones, I also love these wild rose print ones. 

About the #GetFitGetHome Initiative 

The 'Get Fit Get Home' program is a sociable and safe way to run home from work, and takes place twice a week. The best part of it is you don't have to worry about your bags, as it includes a unique bag carrying service. The service is free to Fitness First members, or £15 for 12 sessions for non-members.  There are four routes so you can run all or part of your way home. The options are Bank to Clapham Junction (via Waterloo), Tottenham Court Road to Highbury, Liverpool Street to Stratford, and Canary Wharf to Waterloo. Find out more on the Fitness First Home Run website.

I hope this post has inspired you to get running - even if you're a non Londoner. I've been on a bit of a health push recently, so this is exactly what I needed to motivate my exercise part of it. I'll do a post soon about the new eating plan I am doing through the Green Goddess Life (and Lucozade is definitely not allowed, sorry!). 

Until next time... x

JUICEToU | 3 Day Juice Detox

I recently moved into an unfurnished house. Between unpacking, building flat-pack furniture, and too many late nights (unfortunately spent unpacking, not partying), I began to feel really unhealthy and run down. I decided to do a three day juice detox in order to give my body some much needed nutrients, and to kick start my healthy eating before an important photoshoot.

The company I went with was JUICEToU who I have used before. The detox consists of drinking four juices per day for three days, as much water (with lemon), and fruit and herbal tea as you like. 

What you need to understand about me is that food is my absolute favourite thing in the world. I find it incredibly difficult to give it up. I'm also hooked on chocolate - galaxy caramel, daim bars, Cadbury's; I am obsessed. I expected to be hungry for three days and resisting the constant temptation to eat; however, the juices are surprisingly filling and because you drink them every three hours, hunger wasn't an issue.

Find out how I got on here:

Why did I do the detox?

I didn't do the detox to loose weight, so I can't tell you whether I gained or lost any. I don't even own a pair of scales - I'm a big believer in feeling good and being happy than obsessing over a number. Plus, muscle weighs more than fat anyway! I did the detox because I felt run down, my skin and hair looked dull, and I wanted to kick start my healthy eating plan.

How did I feel during the detox?

On the second day I felt quite lethargic; this is apparently because all of the toxins were leaving my body. If, like me, you drink a lot of caffeine, it's normal to feel slightly nauseous, but by day three I felt healthy and full of life. 

How did I feel after the detox?

• My hair was shinier and felt healthier.
• My tummy was flatter.
• My skin was clearer and more radiant.

• I felt motivated to eat healthier, and have started a meal plan with the Green Goddess Life

Why would I recommend JuiceToU?

I have to be honest, I haven't tried another juice detox, so I can't really compare it to any other company; however, I love JuiceToU because of the variation of flavours. I love green juices, so I like that you get two a day, but it's nice to mix it up with two different fruity flavours, especially at the end of the day. The juices are filling and you can drink them every three hours, which kept my hunger at bay. Plus, as I said, they deliver straight to your door! 

My tips:

(I'm not a professional or nutritionist, I'm just speaking from my experience)

• Fit your detox around your diary. I had a photoshoot on the second day and found it really hard to keep my energy up so I snacked on fruit and nuts. Ok, so I cheated, but I'm only human and I made sure it was healthy food.
• Remember that you can't drink alcohol, so don't do the detox when you know you have a party or event on that will make you tempted to cheat.
• Remember that you can't exercise during the detox, so again plan to do it at a good time.
• Make sure you can keep the juices refrigerated, my final juice had slightly fermented on day 2 because I was away at work I kept it out of the fridge all day.
• Order a Nutribullet so you can keep some green juices in your diet post detox, that way you can try maintain that healthy glow after your detox.

I hope this was helpful. You can read up more about JUICEToU on their website. Let me know if you end up doing the detox, or feel free to ask me any questions! :) 

Until next time... x

The Bath Half Marathon

I’ve talked about it for months, and I have finally done it. That’s right, I ran the Bath Half Marathon! At the beginning of January I could barely run for a month, and I managed to complete the run and keep up with my friend, Kye Sones. 

If you have a run coming up, then I would recommend you read my previous post where personal trainer Laura Sherriff offered me some tips and tricks for the day before and day of the run. I thought I’d tell you about the day and also offer some of the tips I’ve picked up from my experience and from training. 

I drove down the night before with my friend and singer Kye Sones, and we arrived at the Tracy Country Club and Golf Spa in the evening. It’s a beautiful place and it’s a shame we didn’t have longer there to enjoy the grounds. 

We woke up relatively early (mainly due to nerves) on Sunday morning, and had a nice breakfast before doing some press photos and interviews before the race. 

It was my first time in Bath and it made the run so much more enjoyable as it’s such a beautiful city, it kept me distracted from the run itself. There were also some amazing bands and music spread out along the course which was a very welcome distraction. 

The run was relatively easy until the last two miles, which was honestly the hardest 17 minutes of my life. I thought I was going to pass out or be sick when I was running towards the finish line. Thank god I wasn’t - although running through it made me feel even more proud of myself! Not only did I do it, but I did it in under 2 hours, and managed to keep up with my friend, Kye Sones, the whole way.

Tips and Tricks

Laura gave me her advice in my previous post, and I didn’t listen: Don’t change anything the day before you run. I put on some brand new running leggings, and they were too big. That meant I spent the entire time having to pull them up. It was super annoying.

Cut your toe nails! This probably sounds gross and a little obvious, but I didn’t and my toes cut each other.

Motivation

The Nike Running App. This app has been a saving grace for me. I am extremely competitive and being able to see how far my friends have run makes me want to get out there (and run more than them). You can also see how fast you have ran each mile, how many calories you’ve burnt - so whatever your motivation is you can track it with the app. I particularly like that you can sync music playlists to it as well. 

Joining the gym. I joined the Nuffield gym in Surbiton. Not only is it the most beautiful gym I’ve ever seen it’s got so many great classes that on the days I couldn’t be bothered to go for a run, I could try out different classes or go for a chilled swim. It’s silly but being in a fitness environment encouraged me to want to keep exercising, and I could treat myself to a sauna afterwards. 

Diet

I cannot recommend a Nutribullet enough. It has encouraged me to eat healthier as drinks and soups are so easy to make. I got some wheatgrass, maca, and spirulina powder which means it’s really easy to add super foods into your food too. Having a better diet meant I had more energy, but also better hair and skin too. 

The Outfit

I had never paid much attention to sports gear until I started my Bath Half Marathon training and there’s actually some really nice stuff out there.

I’ve always had relatively big boobs, so exercise has been a bit of an ordeal. I used to wear a normal bra, a sports bra, and a top with a built in bra to run, and I’d still be so paranoid the movement would stretch or damage anything and cause sageness later in life. I came across Freya’s sports bra and it is genuinely the best thing ever. I ran the entire half marathon in only that and felt no movement or had any redness around my chest - I even managed to avoid any awful nipple chaffage!

I popped down the the Covent Garden Reebok store and got some amazing things there, including my running trainers that I’ve actually been wearing out and about in the day time as they are so comfortable. Their store is called a Fitness Hub and they have different free classes there throughout the week so I’d recommend checking them out - it would save you money on going to the gym! 

CoppaFeel! 

As you may or may not know, I ran the Bath Half for CoppaFeel! which is a breast cancer awareness charity. It’s a really ambitious charity that is very close to my heart, which you can read about on my justgiving page. Thank you for everyone who sponsored me. 

Let me know if you read this and found it interesting or have any other advice or brands you think I should check out. I also have the running bug, and don’t want to lose my motivation, so if you know of any other great runs in the UK then let me know as I’m going to sign myself up. 

Until next time… x