Very Merry Christmas...

Family time is the best time:

So Christmas is officially over now and what a year its been... A year of firsts for me. Its been a time for reflection and to look back on what has happened in the last 12 months. When I start thinking, so much has happened, and only in the short space of 6 months. I met a wonderful boyfriend who stood by me and supported me through all my training. I trained to compete in my very first bikini competition and came 2nd in my category at Musclemania Britain in September. I then carried on training for the big fitness and stage competition Miss Galaxy Universe in November. And I won which i can't believe still happened. I also started a blog, in which I could document all the bits and pieces for my training and diet etc. As a result of this, its given me some new goals for 2015 which will be an even bigger year.

But this christmas has definitely opened my eyes to be thankful for everything I have (and not just materialistic things) as so many people in life do not have anything. Family, friends and partners should be the things you treasure most, as they guide you through tough times and bring you out the other side.  So I just want to say a huge thank you to all those who have helped me this year; you know who you are....

It's been a nice, quiet affair this christmas with just my mum and stepdad. So Christmas day wasn't spent rushing around for mum and 13 people like usual. No this year, I was the one cooking Christmas lunch and it was only for 3 people - just to ease me in gently for my first Christmas lunch. It was nice just the 3 of us; there wasn't any pressure to eat that extra chocolate (although i'm afraid to say i did!). I don't think this year I ate as much as last year, however i could be wrong, the scales will be the decider! 

I did get some wonderful presents from my family and friends. Check out these bad boys; I cant wait to wear them in the gym; at least you'll be able to spot me in a crowd.

Keep running, running and running....

I also got this little beauty from my folks, now i have no excuse to say i'm not a morning person!

I've never been a morning person...

I have kept my promise and trained over Christmas, however not as hard as I would usually. So now Christmas is over and it's time to work off all that food that's been consumed over the pst week. A good time go start those new year resolutions early, with a January detox. If you want to change your outlook on healthy eating and shed any unwanted weight gained over Christmas, Emma's detox will do just that.

Interested? Contact Studio ELB for more info

And so to start my New Years resolutions earlier, check out my new Facebook page for top tips, advice and me trying out nutrition recipes on https://www.facebook.com/missfitness88

Happy New Year

Little Miss Fitness;
x

Christmas come early!

You'll never guess what landed on my desk today?? Only the biggest Christmas present I think I've ever seen. Santa Claus decided to stop by and give me an early Christmas gift. I didn't think i'd been that good this year!lol

I went down to reception and picked up this huge box which was labelled from Musclefood. I had absolutely no idea what was in it but as you can see it took up most of my desk. First of all let me say thank you to Musclefood for causing a stir in my office, I dont think any of my colleagues had seen a food parcel that big before!

Dont think Santa had enough wrapping paper...

It felt like Christmas had come early and having to open it with the tinniest scissors made me even more excited to just get into the damn thing. Once I'd opened the box I knew exactly what it was; the prize I'd won through the Diet Kitchen's Facebook competition! I thought this was super fast for everything to get to me, as I only found out last week that I'd won. A huge thank you needs to go to Simon from The Diet Kitchen for sorting all this out. Its amazing; I couldn't believe how much meat was in the box. It was like Mary Poppin's bag. 

Chicken anyone?

Another big thank you to Musclefood for this amazing gift. A great start to the week, which is already planned to be filled with good tasting food and drink. Of which I will probably gain the amount of weight all this meat is put together. I've ordered bits from Musclefood before; Quest protein bars and beef jerky and let me tell you the quality is brilliant.

Its expensive to find good quality meat like this in supermarkets. It costs a small fortune to eat clean but I believe if you want to be healthy and live a healthy lifestyle, this is what it takes. A high protein diet works for me as well; feel fuller for longer and I don't crave all the sweet things I used to. I don't tend to snack as much as I used to and if I do it's on vegetables or nuts. 

So within the box, let me give you a taster of what was in it. 

2 X 2.5kg of chicken breasts

2 turkey breast steaks 

2 Irish rump steaks

6 chicken sausages 

4 British beef hache steaks 

Now thats a lot of meat, but I cant wait to cook with them. (I have a sneaky suspicion my boyfriend will like having the steaks.) I have no idea how I'm going to fit 5kg of chicken breasts into my tiny freezer let alone the rest of the other bits! I think a bit of tactical manoeuvring is required. Freezer bags at the ready! 

Its that time of year where you are prone to put on a little weight - so I thought I'd weigh myself today to see where i stand. Pre-christmas weight = 60.4kg. I will post my post-Christmas weight in the new year. I've got my photo-shoot with Lowell coming up soon and as we know the camera adds 10lbs! I can't be looking heavy in these shots. 

Till next time;

Little Miss Fitness

Xx

How many more sleeps??

Wow what a week this has been already and it's only just the beginning. There's so much more to come. 

About a week ago I entered The Diet Kitchen's competition on Facebook, whereby i had to like the post and tag 3 friends in it. What are the chances out of the hundreds of people who entered it, but I won! I can't believe it - my luck is clearly changing. I never used to win anything - and when I mean never I mean not even raffle prizes on the tombola! I left that lucky streak to my nan who wins EVERY time!

The prize from the diet kitchen was a protein bundle from www.MyProtein.com and a voucher to spend online at www.MuscleFood.com. What an amazing prize Simon's put together and from 2 great sites for budding nutritionists like me..I'll be making a list of ingredients Im going to need to make some of Simon's amazing recipes. Oooo I can't wait. There's cookies and cream Quest protein bars (which look so easy to make - just one vital ingredient), protein pancakes, chicken satay skewers...oh god the list goes on! It certainly made my Monday that's for sure so thank you Simon. Check out Simon's Facebook page and YouTube channel; you can literally spend hours watching videos and he's got a really cool mince pie receipe that you could try your hand at this Christmas. 

Facebook Competition

It's another busy week as got my works do and hockey do. It's all go go go. Legs and glutes were smashed in the gym yesterday morning; I feel as if I'm getting stronger on my legs, still need a bit of work though, which is the plan for the New Year. To focus on parts of my body that I think need more attention - aka, back and legs.

Just to let you all know that over Christmas I won't be writing any blogs as I've decided that my blog needs revamping - a new year, a new look and feel for little miss fitness. 

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me by reading my blogs. I hope you find them interesting, inspiring or motivational. I will be carrying on with it in the new year and you'll also be able to witness my healthy cooking skills (which are limited I must admit!ha). So keep your eyes peeled for some more exciting stuff.

Finally I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Put your feet up and enjoy spending time with you family and friends at this festive time of the year. 

Till next time; 

Little Miss Fitness

Xx

Ho ho ho...

It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas.. And I'm not just talking about putting Christmas trees and decorations up, I'm also talking about that feeling of tight trousers, sluggish bodies and wanting to hibernate underneath your duvet whilst eating that last mince pie. I'm exactly the same and I'm pretty sure most people who work out, PT's or who professionally compete have the same feeling. We are human after all!

Christmas is the time of wear where we put on a bit of weight. I don't want to do that this year; it's just being clever with the foods you do eat. Dark chocolate vs milk, unsalted nuts vs roasted & salted peanuts and portion control. The feeling of unbuttoning your trousers is an uncomfortable one. 

If your worried about that additional bit of weight over Christmas, the diet kitchen has some great recipes that you can make so easily and that taste great too. All the guilty pleasures without the guilt after scoffing your face! Simons's videos are so easy to watch and he'll give you some helpful tips and points on making good food that still tasts amazing.. And not to mention it's good for you!! Trust me I've tried the man's protein cheesecake, it tastes heavenly and no different from normal cheesecake. I'll be trying his quest protein bar recipe soon - all I need is some IMO vitafiber and I'm good to go.

We had the Galaxy Christmas party last Saturday and it was amazing to see all the girls again. Even though it's been a month, it's felt a lot longer. There was lots of merriment, drinking, plate smashing and belly dancing (and not all in that order!haha). 

Fit factor girls...

Cant touch this....

Making an entrance..

Onto this week and it's a busy one, I'll be chopping and changing gym sessions for morning and nights, just to try and keep body guessing and in shape. Focusing on back and shoulders and then see if I can train glutes/legs twice this week. I've got a photo shoot with Lowell Mason at the end of January and I need to be in tip top condition. I'm so excited to see what theme we are going to shoot.

Few top shoulder and back exercises that I find that really hit the spot.

- bent over rows

- back extensions

- lateral pull downs (whilst kneeling)

- shoulder press (drop setting). 

Drop setting; warm up with a fairly light weight and then on the next sets go heavy enough that you can only get 8-10 reps out. Then straight after get a lighter weight and do the same exercise for 15-20 reps. This will build your endurance. You'll feel the burn but that's a good sign - no pain no gain! If it's a sharp pain though do stop and rest.

Till next time. 

Little miss fitness 

Xx

The perfect pair!

What a find...

So last week I wanted to get myself a little pre-Christmas treat and I cant tell you how excited I was when I found the comfiest pair of gym trousers and from none other than USA Pro. I was shocked when I came across them in the shop; at the quality of fabric but also what a great a price they were. Once i'd left the shop I couldn't wait to get them home and try them on, let alone see what they could do in the gym.

USA Pro Capri Pants

So this week they got their first test drive in the gym. Ive never usually been one to care what I wear in the gym, but since doing Miss Galaxy and Musclemania, i've taken a new perspective that having comfortable gym wear can make you train better. You're not worrying about if your boobs are going to fall out of your sports bra or if your trousers are see-through.

Well hallelujah I can tell you these Capri Pants neither fall down or are they see through. They don't fall down when you attempting box jumps or dead-lifts, the waist band stays firmly in place. No-one wants to be humiliation central, half way through a set of burpees. It has a big waist band so it sits on the hips properly; oh and I have to tell you, it has the funkiest lining ever...bright pink! Proper girly.

The fabric of the pants is quite thick and stretchy (45% Nylon / 43% polyester / 12% elastane), so you won't feel restricted in them and you won't get any of those awkward moments when you bend over to pick up weights. As much as I like fashion and work in it for a day job, I don't really like to see other ladies knickers or (heaven help me) thong whilst concentrating on a set. Sorry for that crude picture but I'm sure I'm not the only one whose had this kind of experience whilst working out!

Everything about these trousers makes you feel really secure and a little bonus, theres a little zipped pocket at the back of the pants. Its not big enough to hold an Iphone but Ipod yes, or use it to keep your gym keys safe.  They have mesh side vents so that if you swear profusely (which I have to admit I do) then it allows your body to breath.

So my next and final tip is; if don't have a pair of these already, why not put it on your Christmas wish list to Santa? If you've been good this year, you may be surprised on Christmas Day!

Till next time;

Little Miss Fitness

Xx