I’m no fitness and healthy eating Guru… but I would like to share how I have managed to maintain a healthy weight and fitness level most of my adult life.
My 6&6 Simple Eating & Exercise Plan
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Monthly Archives: July 2011
No Waste Tastes Great 29 July 2011
It’s Friday Guys and time for No Waste Tastes Great
Fridays I take a little time first thing to strip down the fridge and perishables cupboard, clean both of them, take note of anything that needs replenishing, return any items back to the fridge leaving what needs using up on the counter.
Click here to find out more about my Friday Routine
Seriously no waste or even any food in the house this week. We spent the week on the beautiful Cornish Coast.
Taking a Virtual Holiday…
This post isn’t about holidaying in the virtual world, rather it’s farewell.
Just for a week!
No Waste Tastes Great 22 July 2011
It’s Friday Guys and time for No Waste Tastes Great
Fridays I take a little time first thing to strip down the fridge and perishables cupboard, clean both of them, take note of anything that needs replenishing, return any items back to the fridge leaving what needs using up on the counter.
Click here to find out more about my Friday Routine
Things have been a little different this week in that I have been following my 6&6 Simple Eating and Exercise Plan, and participating in Minimize Yo Butt.
It doesn’t change my attitude to food waste however. My meals were planned, and as such there isn’t any waste. I have 2 portions of cottage pie for the kids tonight with broccoli and carrots. There’s some of my favourite soup ready for my lunch and the Hubby and I have omelets (due to having eggs left to use) this evening with cherry toms and peppers and that’s the fridge and perishables all done and dusted. The fridge is then well and truly bare!
The plan this week had been to post daily my menu for each day to illustrate how someone looking to reduce their MumTum can incorporate 6 simple meals into family life. Yesterday there wasn’t a post, I was helping at the local school disco and had two very excited children upon my return which took a while to settle down.
Regardless my eating did not deviate – Day 4
Meal 1 – Oats and Honey
Meal 2 – Summer Fruit Protein Shake
Meal 3 – Jacket Potato with Curried Cottage Cheese
Meal 4 – Myoplex Meal Replacement Bar
Meal 5 – Spicy Carrot, Ginger and Red Lentil Soup
Meal 6 – Chocolate Protein Shake
Normally Thursday evening is running night, but not possible due to the disco – so unfortunately I missed a workout! Friday should be my free day where I eat what I like and skip a workout, but as I have food to use up and it’s all in line with my 6&6 I’ll keep to the plan and also incorporate some cardio to make up for what I missed yesterday. The same principle applies to the 6&6 plan as it does to meal planning, having that ‘contingency day’ means should plans deviate there’s a day to rectify!
How’s your Fridge looking this Friday and if participating, how’s the challenge going for you?
6&6 Simple Eating & Exercise Plan – Day 3
It’s Day 3 today of the Minimize Yo Butt Challenge (only another 39 days left to go! – don’t worry I wont be posting daily for that period of time!)
Yesterday’s post was rather rushed so I thought to do it a little earlier whilst the kids are out may be better, particularly as I have a great idea for a lunch to share with you all.
I’m home alone until dinner tonight so I’ll be offering no Kiddie lunch alternative and the Hubby is still away for work so is probably enjoying a very fattening lunch somewhere.
Meal 1 (7am)
Guess what? Scottish Rolled Oats (Porridge) and Honey with Hot Semi-Skimmed Milk.
Meal 2 (10am)
Frozen Summer Fruits with Strawberry Flavoured Whey Protein Blended with Skimmed Milk
Meal 3 (12.30pm)
2 Slices of wholemeal toast spread with double concentrate tomato puree topped with tinned mackarel in tomato sauce and grilled halved cherry tomatoes sprinkled with mixed herbs. A very balanced and healthy meal. Protein, Carbs and a Vegetable. 7 cherry toms provide 1 of your 5 a day. Really tasty and contains the hugely beneficial Omega 3.
Meal 4 (3pm – not yet eaten)
Myoplex Diet Meal Replacement Bar (on the run – the school run!)
*not an affiliate link – the product may be called ‘Lite’ in the US?
Meal 5 (5pm – not yet eaten)
All the family – Slow-cooked Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Rice
Meal 6 (9pm)
Chocolate Flavoured Whey Protein blended with Skimmed Milk
Exercise
An all over body workout with kettlebells is on the cards. I’m only just getting into kettlebells and have purchased a DVD to assist whilst I get the hang of it. As such no advice or tips on this as I am a novice! However the rumour is they produce fantastic results. So very simple and minimal therefore I love the idea of it, let’s hope the execution and results is as pleasing long-term.
How’s the challenge going for you?
6&6 Simple Eating & Exercise Plan – Day 2
It’s day 2 of the Minimize Yo Butt Challenge and as promised I am posting daily my plan between Mon-Fri.
Just a brief post today… really want to go and watch Undercover Boss…
Meal 1 (7am)
- Me – Scottish Rolled Oats and Honey with Hot Semi-Skimmed milk
- Family – Cereal
Meal 2 (11am – straight after 4.5 mile run)
- Me – Frozen Summer Fruits and Strawberry flavoured whey protein blended with Skimmed Milk (This was DIVINE!)
- The Kids – Snack at School/Playgroup – Toast and Milk
Meal 3 (1pm – out and about today so lunch on the go)
- Me – Myoplex Diet Meal Replacement Bar
- The Kids – Packed Lunch
Meal 4 (2.30pm)
- Me – Apple and Yogurt
- The Kids – Fruit
Meal 5 (5pm)
- All of the family – Turkey Mince Spaghetti Bolognese
Meal 6 (9pm)
- Me – Chocolate flavoured Whey Protein blended with Skimmed Milk
- The Kids had their milk at 7pm before bed
Busy day today out and about, so I had a meal replacement bar as I ate at a friend’s house where Dan had a play-date. No Hubby today as he’s away overnight with work.
Hope the challenge is going well for you?
6&6 Simple Eating & Exercise Plan – Day 1
Today is launch day over at Minimalist At Home and the 6 week Minimize Yo Butt challenge.
I posted yesterday how I will be participating with the ultimate aim of dropping a jean size from UK 12 to 10 in 6 weeks.
So how do we achieve that over here at Chez Wright?
Simply of course!
I call it my 6&6 - 6 simple meals a day for 6 days and 6 days of exercise. A free day each week (coincides with No Waste Tastes Great as Friday Night is Date Night at Chez Wright).
I’m no expert and none of this is scientific. It’s based on common sense and was initially inspired over 10 years ago when I discovered Body For Life, although now it has evolved to an almost unrecognisable version of the 12 week program. It’s how I do it, not necessarily how I think others should…
Monday to Friday this week I’ll be sharing how I follow this plan whilst feeding a family of four. When I am following this plan I want it to impact on my family as little as possible, and not be anything unusual or regimented. I don’t want the Kids growing up being aware of ‘diets or plans’. My aim is that they grow up eating as healthily as possible (with some treats of course), and it is a way of life, not something they do for a few weeks and then eat unhealthily. I simply ‘try a little harder’ and ‘watch what I eat’ a little more when I feel it’s time to shape up. It’s a gradual process…
EATING TODAY
Meal 1 (7am)
- Me – Scottish Rolled Oats and Honey with Hot Semi Skimmed Milk
- The family – Cereal and Orange Juice
Meal 2 (10am)
- Me – Frozen Banana and Chocolate Flavoured Whey Protein blended with Skimmed Milk and Ice Cubes added
- The Kids – Milk and a Banana
Meal 3 (12pm)
- Me – Jacket Potato with Cottage Cheese and Salad
- The Kids – Packed Lunch for School and Jacket Potato with Cheese and Beans
Meal 4 (2.30pm)
- Me – Frozen Summer Fruits with Stawberry Flavoured Whey Protein blended with Skimmed Milk and Ice Cubes added
- The Kids – Apple or Raisins, Breadsticks and Juice
Meal 5 (5pm)
- Me – Cold Wholewheat Pasta with Tuna, Cucumber, seasoned with black pepper, mixed herbs and balsamic vinegar.
- The Kids (& Hubby) – Cold Wholewheat Pasta with Tuna, Cheese, Cucumber and Garlic Bread, seasoned to taste (nb tonight the kids requested Ham instead, normally we don’t do meat on Mondays but they saw the nice lean ham they like…)
Meal 6 (9pm)
- Me – Chocolate Whey Protein Blended with Skimmed Milk (No fruit as I reduce Carbs after 5pm ps I know there are carbs in milk)
- Hubby – Hot Chocolate
- The Kids – In bed! (They’ll have had their milk about 7pm)
In addition I drink about 2 litres of room temperature tap water, and about 6 cups of hot green tea with lemon. I’ll have 1 or 2 cups of coffee, but I have to limit this as I take sugar in coffee – I know shocking!
The Kids and Hubby will have a pudding after dinner (Meal 5) and they’ll have an after school treat, a treatsize chocolate bar or something like that. (I also may have a treat if I am feeling deprived 
up to 100 calories)
up to 100 calories)EXERCISE TODAY
Today is weights for me. I’ve used dumbells for years and have a set routine that I work to exercising 5 muscles groups in the upper body.
Shoulders, Triceps, Biceps, Back and Chest. It’ll take approx. 30 minutes. This I’ll do tonight once the kids are in bed and I’ve had time for dinner to digest.
How are you doing today? Are you taking part in the challenge?
Does My Bum Look Big In This?
Tomorrow is the launch of Minimize Yo Butt over at Minimalist at Home. Faith is setting herself (and others who want to participate) a 6 week challenge to get in shape.
I love the idea of a communal challenge, and as such have decided to participate.
I’m no stranger to exercise or healthy eating, it’s always been a part of my adult life. However we all slip into bad habits from time to time.
This challenge launches as my half marathon training begins in earnest so I think this may just be the additional motivation I need.
My challenge to myself is not specifically weight loss, I am average weight, average BMI etc..by all accounts and purposes spot on for my height and age. There won’t be a weekly weigh in.
However bearing two children takes its toll, it’s not my weight that’s the problem (I’m back to pre-baby weight), rather it’s the distribution!
Therefore my challenge is to drop a jeans size, as this is where the stubborn fat is currently residing – round my middle… I have MumTum!
Fortunately the exact same pair of jeans I have in a UK size 12 is currently on sale in a UK size 10… So I’m already 10 pounds (£) lighter…
So how am I going to participate, and what will I be blogging about?
Monday to Friday this week, to celebrate the launch, I will post daily my simple eating and exercise plan.
I call it my 6&6.
- 6 simple meals a day for 6 days and 1 free day (Friday).
- 6 days of exercise alternating running and weights with 1 free day (Friday).
Don’t fret this isn’t some extreme diet or fitness regime, it’s just how over the years I have adapted my 6&6 to fit with family life, and very importantly family meals. I’m no fitness expert, it’s just years of habit-forming that I’ll be sharing, and a few ideas along the way…
At the end of the 6 weeks I hope to have some great before and after photos… fingers crossed eh?
If you fancy Minimizing Yo Butt, Check Out
No Waste Tastes Great 15 July 2011
It’s Friday Guys! It’s time for
No Waste Tastes Great
Fridays I take a little time first thing to strip down the fridge and perishables cupboard, clean both of them, take note of anything that needs replenishing, return any items back to the fridge leaving what needs using up on the counter.
Click here to find out more about my Friday Routine
So what is sitting on the counter in anticipation this week?
I’ve been blogging every Friday for almost 10 months about food waste, after being initially inspired by The Frugal Girl and Food Waste Friday. It would seem that my potential food waste is diminishing. By meal planning, keeping my eye on the ball and then accounting for my perishables it does indeed reduce waste. There are “not so good weeks”, but this tends to be when life gets in the way.
You know you are doing well when on a Thursday evening your Daughter opens the Fridge and goes ‘Awww Mom there’s nothing in it!” when peckish on her return from school.
We have a friend to play after school today and pancakes have already been requested. So it would seem it’s yorkshire puds and frozen low fat sausages (toad in the hole) with frozen veggies for the kids followed by pancakes with sugar and lemon. That’ll use up 2 eggs, and the remaining 3 I have a birthday cake to bake at the weekend and freeze. Job done.
Friday Night is Date Night at Chez Wright and typically we have a takeaway if the cupboard is bare. However since conducting my Cooking From Scratch Cost Experiment a couple of weeks ago, I am feeling some resistance to ordering one. I know I can chuck a couple of free range chicken breasts and peppers in Lil’ Bill my slow cooker to make a Chicken Rogan Josh, hand make some chapatis and accompany it all with a bottle of very reasonably priced chardonnay from Home Bargains. This will be half the price, and I’m happier with the quality of the meat. So I popped out and got the ingredients I needed to do just that.
How’s your Fridge looking this Friday?
Taking one’s own advice – or not as the case may be…
This is a picture of me about to tuck into‘The Slag Of All Snacks’
This can mean only one of two things either; I’m pregnant (these were my cravings when I was on both occasions), or the author of ‘The Simple Guide To Meal Planning‘ did not heed one’s own advice.
It’s the latter.
