Transform your body in 90 days

Pictures taken 3 months apart, randomly selected from my phone.

It all started 90 days ago when I had finally decided to do something about my physical shape, health and fitness, instead of complaining about it which was easy to do. I had started running around a year before and my level of fitness and health was improving, however my weight had remained pretty much the same. I didn't like how I looked and had grown to the biggest dress size I'd been in my life, so I decided it was time to do something about it, as I said it had been easy to complain about it but 'what was I doing about it'? My 'going out for a run days' had started decreasing and I was consuming lots of sugar full and fatty foods.

My husband Stewart had said he was going to attempt a 90 day regime, of healthy food and lots of exercise. He had found some pictures online showing how people had transformed their body shape in 90 days and he wanted to try doing the same.
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For me I wasn't overjoyed initially at the idea, I enjoy food and also have limited time for myself so wasn't really sure how I was going to fit it in. But I set dates in the calendar to weigh and measure myself once every month for the next three months and the clean living began.

Initially I cut out as much fatty, high carb, high sugar foods and stopped drinking alcohol, I set aside a cheat day for a Saturday (I didn't go over board on this day, we would make a spinach and filo pie, and have a few glasses of wine). The bank holiday weekend was a blow out but we generally kept on track.

After watching Stewart do a week of intense physical training, my few runs here and there seemed pretty pointless so I tried following an exercise video on YouTube, I loved it! It was more enjoyable for me following a routine as I didn't know what was coming next and was focusing so much on what to do, that a half hour routine had passed in what seemed like 5 minutes.

Pictures of my husband Stewart, before and after his 90 days.

The channel I was using on fitness was very inspiring, the coach would mentally motivate you and keep you going during the tough times. The channel is called HASfit on YouTube, they have beginner and advanced videos as well as a variation in length, I really enjoy working out to the videos and would highly recommend anyone trying them out.

How did I fit the training in, around such a busy schedule?
I tend to train on a night time if I'm doing the video workout, it's normally around 10pm, at first it would wake me up but after a couple of days my body was use to it and after a hot shower I was ready to go to bed. In the early days I would drink a Herbal 'sleep aid' tea also, which always helped me doze off too.

What about eating habits?
This has been the biggest change for me, I have genuinely enjoyed eating healthy. I've started to use Pinterest a lot more to find and try yummy new healthy recipes. I feel my understanding of nutrition has developed and I'm excited to learn more. Simple changes like switching normal potatoes for sweet potatoes, creating healthy nutritious snacks (with oats and seeds) and a new recipe I developed of 'spinach and quinoa patties' have been just a few things I've been eating during the 90 days. I will add the Pattie recipe at the end for those who want to try.

Well it's finally over...
So do I feel any better for it? Yes absolutely!!

Over the 90 days, my fitness level has noticeably increased, my outlook on food has changed and healthy eating is becoming the norm. I've even set a new challenge for the next 30 days where I intend on achieving my ideal weight, or at least get my body in to the shape I'd like. Weight used to used to mean everything to me but now I'm more concerned with being and feeling healthy.

If you are not happy with how you look or have other things that are on your mind, start doing something about it. Little steps turn into great big leaps, I lost over a stone and a half and a good 4 inches on my waist in just 3 months and my journeys not over, I finally started changing myself for 'myself', so that I feel good and you CAN too. Not only has this made me happier but by looking after myself it also helped my mind stay clear and I generally feel great. You can do anything you want in life, take the first step and keep trying, if you give up or don't even try, you will definitely never get there!

Here's the recipe for my spinach and quinoa patties, I ate them as a meal with some tinned tomatoes, I also took them to my office and shared them with my colleagues. We reheated them on the George Forman grill and enjoyed them in a salad sandwich (using Warburton's thins).

Spinach and Quinoa Patties
Ingredients

• 2/3 cup spinach, cooked, squeezed dry, roughly chopped - you can use fresh spinach cooked 2 minutes in boiling water then squeezed dry or frozen spinach, defrost, squeezed dry. 
• 3 cups cooked Quinoa
• 2 eggs 
• 1 cup Bread Crumbs (gluten free can also be used)
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove of garlic (crushed)
• Sprinkle of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper

On a board using a sharp knife roughly chop the cooked and dried spinach leaves. Set aside into a large mixing bowl. Add the diced onions, eggs, bread crumbs, cooked quinoa, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.
Combine until it comes together and it forms a sticky mixture that you can easily shape into patties with your hands, combine grated cheese (the recipe will work without cheese too, but I used cheese). If it doesn't hold well together (too moist) add slightly more bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon at a time until it gets to a consistency that is easy to shape into patties.

• Prepare a plate or tray covered with baking paper.
• Shape the patties with your hands and place them on the tray. Repeat until no more batter left.
• Store in the fridge to firm up - about 15-30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 180 C, Bake the patties 15-25 minutes or until crispy and golden. I cooked mine on gas mark 6 for 30 minutes then browned them off in the frying pan.

This recipe makes about 25 small patties.

Peace and love to you and yours.